T1 Faker's Monumental Legacy: The Unkillable Demon King
With this year's 13th edition of League of Legends’ annual Worlds Tournament coming to its final climax - we have a very familiar face making their 6th appearance in the finals during their 8th Worlds qualification.
SK Telecom T1, changed to T1 in 2019, is widely regarded as one of the greatest League of Legends esports organizations in the world. No esports organization in League of Legends has had the consistency and longevity of success that T1 has had.
But what sets T1 apart? Not only just being the only organization with 3 Worlds Championships. But also having the most LCK titles (10) and making it to Worlds finals an additional 3 times now. The organization that comes 2nd to T1 is Gen G, formerly known as Samsung Galaxy. With 2 Worlds titles and only 1 runner-up. In 3rd place being a tie between Dplus KIA, formerly known as Damwon Gaming, and Fnatic. Both only have 1 title and 1 runner-up.
Now makes 10 years that T1 has been in constant headlines, and it doesn't seem to have an end. What's behind their unparalleled success that's turned them into the powerhouse they are today?
Legends Never Die
In the grand halls of League of Legends, Faker isn't just a name. He's the living legend etched into every play and legacy of LoL esports. He's been the one to prove that it's true: Legends never Die.
Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok. From his iconic blind pick Zed v Zed outplay against KT Bullets Ryu in the LCK Finals in 2013. To his playmaker Azir teamfight at the Dragon pit just 3 days ago. Faker has proven time and time again that he is the League of Legends GOAT.
For 10 years Faker has been a constant in T1, being the veteran leader for all players that come and go. In his interviews he constantly goes on to show that his priority is to always have a good mental state. He has mentioned in a recent interview his favorite book is quoted to be Internal Communication by Dr.Kim Juhwan, a book all about exercising the mind and creating mental strength. Faker has become not only a prodigy but also a secret weapon. As a senior member now who became part-owner of T1 in 2020, Faker is a role model as a demonstration of bringing out the best of the best within not just one person but a team.
The Brand
With Faker doing a lot of the heavy lifting for jersey sales, views and game attendance, the rise of popularity gave T1 the foundation that it needed to build an organization designed for immortality.
It isn't news that esports is a young industry with many organizations who struggle to sustain themselves. T1 however, being championship winners from their own debut year, were quick to hold a high mantle above their head. But now the game is keeping it there.
Many teams were rumored to be the next T1, players the next Faker. But time has shown that those rumors would quickly be blotted out by the longevity of Faker and T1. A good amount of credit should go to their commitment to homegrown talent.
As hard as it can be to believe, T1's success isn't just thanks to Faker himself. T1 strives to be a team of dedicated individuals eager to work together as one unit.
Some big names who helped raise T1 to glory have retired as players. But some players like Bengi and Roach moved on to become coaches and stay close with the team. Their current roster has had no changes since November of 2020 with Zeus, Oner, Gumayusi, and Keria. 3 years of players learning, and growing together. By establishing heritage, the next generation of players can be properly taught to carry on a legacy.
Credit: Yicun Liu/Riot Games
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