Let’s be real for a second. If you’ve followed League of Legends for more than a week, you know the name Lee Sang-hyeok. Or, as the world calls him, Faker. But here is the thing: most people talk about him like he’s some museum relic. They look at the highlights from 2013, the Ryu outplay, the early dominance, and they think they've seen the whole story.
They haven't.
Writing about Faker in 2026 is weird. He’s 29. In "esports years," that makes him a senior citizen. Most of the guys he started with are long gone, replaced by 17-year-olds with twitchier reflexes and shorter memories. Yet, there he is. Still mid. Still winning. Still the face of T1.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Faker’s Longevity
It’s easy to say he’s just "better." But that’s lazy.
The truth? Faker basically reinvented himself. Twice. If you look at the 2013-2017 version of Faker—the "Unkillable Demon King" era—he was a mechanical monster. He would just gap people in lane and dare them to do something about it. He was faster. He was meaner.
But look at the 2025 season. Faker led T1 to a historic three-peat, winning his sixth World Championship. He didn't do it by being the fastest guy on the map. He did it by being the smartest.
Honestly, the gap between "Peak Prime Faker" and the field in the early days was massive. Now, the mechanical gap is gone. Young players like Chovy or Knight can match him move-for-move in a 1v1. But they can't match the pressure he puts on the map. They don't have that "Faker factor" where he lures four people into a bad dive just because his name is Faker.
The Stats Don't Lie (But They Don't Tell the Whole Story Either)
By the start of 2026, Faker's trophy cabinet is just stupid.
- 6 World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- 10 LCK Titles
- 2 MSI Titles
- First player to 1,000 LCK games (achieved in 2025)
- First player to 3,500 LCK kills
He’s currently sitting on a four-year contract with T1 that runs until 2029. Let that sink in. He’ll be 33 when that deal ends. In a world where pros usually burn out by 22, he’s signed for another three years of top-flight competition.
Why Faker Still Matters Right Now
You might wonder why we’re still obsessing over him. It’s because Faker is the only thing keeping the "old guard" and the "new era" connected.
Last year, at the 2025 Worlds Final in Chengdu, T1 was down 2-1 against KT Rolster. It felt like the end. The "ZOFGK" era was technically over—Doran had replaced Zeus at the start of the year—and people weren't sure if the magic was still there.
Then Faker happened.
It wasn't a flashy 1v5. It was a series of perfectly timed Galio and Viktor performances that basically strangled the life out of the opposition. He’s become the ultimate anchor. He makes Oner and Gumayusi look like gods because they never have to worry about the mid-lane collapsing.
The Physical Toll
We have to talk about the wrist. It’s the elephant in the room.
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Back in 2023, he had to take a break because of arm issues, and T1 looked like a Bronze-tier team without him. They went 1-7. It was a wake-up call for everyone who thought he was "washed."
He’s managed it since then with a strict rehab routine and a redesigned setup—he even has a custom Secretlab chair and VANDYTHEPINK collab gear designed to help with ergonomics—but the pain is a constant shadow. He’s admitted that his "hands probably won't last much longer" in terms of peak agility. But he just doesn't care. He adapts.
The Cultural Phenomenon
Faker isn't just a League of Legends player anymore. He’s a "moving billboard."
In South Korea, he’s on everything. Samsung Galaxy S25 ads. Paldo ramen cups. Even the President of South Korea and the CEO of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang, have shouted him out. He’s become a cultural landmark.
There’s this famous story about him being incredibly frugal despite making an estimated $6 million a year (not counting his 6% ownership stake in T1). He doesn't buy fancy cars. He doesn't wear designer clothes unless they're sponsored. He just plays the game and donates massive amounts to charity. That’s why the fans love him. He hasn't changed since he was 17, even though the world around him has completely lost its mind.
What Really Happened With the 2025 "Three-Peat"
Most pundits thought T1 was cooked after they lost to Gen.G in the 2025 MSI finals. They finished 4th in the LCK Summer Split. They barely made it to Worlds.
But Worlds Faker is a different breed.
Against Top Esports in the quarterfinals, he was a nightmare. Against KT in the finals, he was the composure they needed. This is the "clutch" factor. You can be better than him for 90% of the year, but if you meet him in a Best of 5 at Worlds, you're probably going to lose.
Actionable Insights: Learning From the GOAT
If you're a player looking to improve, don't try to copy Faker's 2013 Zed mechanics. You're not that guy. Instead, look at how he plays today:
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- Master the Map: Faker says every mid-laner should play Twisted Fate. Why? Because it forces you to look at the mini-map. If you can't see the map, you're not playing League; you're just clicking buttons.
- Precision Over Speed: He emphasizes Ryze for a reason. It's about hitting the right keys in the right order. In 2026, being "fast" is common. Being "right" is rare.
- Mental Resilience: When T1 was 1-7 during his injury break, he didn't come back and scream at them. He came back and provided a "stabilizing presence." If you tilt, you lose. It’s that simple.
- Adapt or Die: He has the most unique champion picks in LCK history (82 and counting). Don't be a one-trick. The meta changes every two weeks; your brain has to change with it.
Faker's journey isn't over. With a contract through 2029, we're likely going to see him hit even more "impossible" milestones. Whether he wins a seventh title or finally slows down, he’s already done the one thing no one thought possible: he outlasted the game itself.
Keep an eye on the LCK Spring 2026 schedule. T1 is already back in the lab, and if history has taught us anything, betting against the Unkillable Demon King is a quick way to lose your lunch money.