Faker is the Esports PC player of the year 2023
The greatest League of Legends player of all time, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has added another accolade to his name. At the Esports Awards 2023, Faker was named the Esports’ PC player for the year 2023.
Along with being named the Esports PC player of the year, Riot Games’ tribute video, “Faker - A decade of greatness” won the Esports Content of the year. Faker’s home T1 also won the Esports Team of the year.
These wins come fresh off of T1 and Faker’s fourth Worlds title. Being the only team and player in the history of League of Legends Esports to win four titles. During this feat Faker was in his tenth year of professional career.
The Greatness of Faker
Today, Faker’s name is synonymous with League of Legends and T1. Starting in 2013, in his rookie year playing for SK Telecom’s T1 K team, he rose to prominence and not only qualified for the World Championship, but won it.
It was during his rookie year that Faker got the moniker “The Unkillable Demon King”. He became the youngest player to win the Worlds title. He followed it up with two more Worlds titles in 2015 and 2016. While winning numerous LCK titles and two MSI titles.
In the span of 2015 - 2017, Faker won four out of the six International titles. A feat which hasn’t been touched since. In the following year, Faker missed his first Worlds tournament. He returned to Worlds the next year, but the second coming of the Demon King was never as successful.
Faker's trophy cabinet until 2022 (credits: Posted on r/lolesports by u/gandalf45435)2022 was the best year for Faker and T1, which set the record for most games won. But during Worlds 2022, Faker lost to Deft’s Cinderella story line.
In 2023, Faker had an impressive journey, He won the Asian Games gold medal and was exempted from mandatory military service. He followed it up with the unexpected Worlds 2023 title. The wins come after an injury forced him to take a break from competing.
In his tenth year of playing professionally, he has become the oldest player to win a Worlds title. The youngest and the oldest player to win a Worlds title is the same. A record that is hard to break. A record that will likely never be broken.
The Esports PC player of 2023
Faker’s 2023 is definitely unparalleled. With an International Gold Medal and a Worlds title. It was hard for any of his peers to stand-up to Faker’s achievements for the year.
In this 10th year of playing professional, Faker still stands tall, still amongst the best talents of League of Legends and still the “Unkillable Demon King”
Featured Image Credits: Colin Young-Wolff // Riot Games
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