League of Legends Hall of Famer Faker still going strong after 12 years

SINGAPORE – Professional gamers are not often associated with longevity, with many retiring in their mid-20s in contrast to traditional sports – but League of Legends Hall of Famer Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok is defying convention after 12 years in the e-sport.

Lee, who turns 29 in May, has no plans to retire any time soon.

Speaking to the press via an interpreter on Feb 26, Lee said: “As a professional gamer, I believe that the No. 1 thing that’s most important is passion.

“Because whatever you do, if you have an interest and want to do well in it, then you will try to figure out what you’re lacking and will try to learn and fill that gap.

“I do not have a specific plan about retirement, never thought about it yet, and what’s most important to stay long as a pro gamer is to keep my passion burning.”

The South Korean gamer is in town for Razer’s Esports Summit, which was held to celebrate their 10-year partnership.

On Feb 25, the e-sports superstar created a buzz at the technology firm’s headquarters in one-north, where around 1,000 fans showed up for a meet-and-greet session with Lee – hundreds more supporters had to be turned away at the door.

Lee joined the T1 team in 2013 and has been an ever-present force in the squad, winning five world championship titles. His most recent triumph was at the 2024 edition, where Lee – one of the oldest players in the competition – led his team to victory against China’s Bilibili Gaming in the final.

He was also the first and only player inducted into the League of Legends – a multiplayer online battle arena game – Hall of Fame in 2024 and is widely considered as the GOAT (greatest of all time) in the title.

So beloved is Lee that an online news outlet has named the gamer as one of the “living national treasures of South Korea”, alongside K-pop group BTS and footballer Son Heung-min.

Like Son, Lee was also exempted from full military service after he won gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.

“I’m really grateful that a lot of people in South Korea are paying such love and attention to me,” said Lee, who is the title’s highest-earning player with tournament winnings in excess of US$1.8 million (S$2.4 million).

“I feel that every day and am really grateful about it. And honestly, compared to Son Heung-min, I’m not there yet – he’s more popular and famous than me.”

Just like South Korea and Tottenham Hotspur captain Son, Lee is also hoping to make an impact, as he wants to change the public perception of e-sports and gamers.

He added: “Positive influences on children (for e-sports) are not well shown, whereas negative influences over young children are very well shown.

“A lot of multiplayer games are no longer solo games – you play with other players and you learn to communicate a lot. Not only that, games teach children how to solve problems and (these are) actually like puzzles.

“These days, the impression of games is slowly getting better and the job as a pro gamer is something really difficult to understand, (especially for our) parents’ generation, but I believe that this is something that time can solve.”

Human resources executive Pua Li Yu, 27, who has been a fan of Faker since 2016, was among the supporters at the meet-and-greet session.

She said: “The event was absolutely amazing. From the moment I reached Razer’s HQ, I could feel everyone’s passion and excitement... When Faker walked out, the atmosphere was vibrant, as everyone was screaming ‘Dae Sang-hyeok’.

“Faker’s global impact on e-sports is undeniable. He is definitely the face of League of Legends and the greatest of all time.

“He’s not only a symbol of excellence and perseverance, but he also inspired future generations and played a critical role in legitimising e-sports as a career and bringing it into the mainstream.”

Mark Chay, chief development officer of the Global Esports Federation, a Singapore-based organisation that “promotes the credibility, legitimacy and prestige of e-sports”, was also a guest at the event on Feb 25.

Calling Lee a “phenomenal e-sports athlete”, the incoming Singapore National Olympic Council secretary-general said: “His presence in Singapore is a tremendous boost not just for aspiring local e-sports talent, but also for fans and players across the region.

“Faker is a global icon and an outstanding ambassador for e-sports, and his influence extends far beyond the game. He represents what’s possible in e-sports and motivates our local talent to pursue their dreams on the global stage.”