▶Follow us on SNS to read more articles
<Facebook> https://www.facebook.com/chosunenglish
<X> https://twitter.com/chosunenglish
Pro gamer “Faker,” whose real name is Lee Sang-hyeok (27, T1), is the Lionel Messi and Michael Jordan of the online gaming world. His global reputation is said to rival that of Son Heung-min or BTS. His annual salary is estimated to be over ￦7 billion, making him the highest-paid professional athlete in South Korea (US$1=￦1322).
Next month, Faker will be participating in the Hangzhou Asian Games in China. The game he will compete in is LoL (League of Legends). This time, esports, which was introduced as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, has been recognized as an official sport. This decision was made considering the passionate support esports receives from the younger generation, similar to traditional sports. With a total of 7 games including LoL, PUBG Mobile, Street Fighter V, and FIFA Online 4, South Korea will be competing in 4 of them. Hopes are high for winning gold medals in LoL and FIFA Online 4.
When meeting on the 30th, Lee Sang-hyeok expressed his determination, saying, “Every sports player imagines playing for their country. The competition is about three weeks away, and I’ll give my all in preparation.” Lee will be part of a team consisting of five other teammates. In LoL, he plays the position of “mid,” responsible for the mid-lane offense. This role requires exceptional decision-making skills and strategic thinking, as the game’s outcome can be greatly influenced by the mid-lane. Lee Sang-hyeok mentioned, “It’s a position with the greatest impact within the game, involving reading the flow of the game and making adjustments. You could compare it to a point guard in basketball or an attacking midfielder (playmaker) in soccer.”
Lee Sang-hyeok is a legend who has won the LoL World Championship, often referred to as the “LoL-d Cup,” three times (in 2013, 2015, and 2016), competing against the world’s top players. True to his nickname, he fakes his opponents and overwhelms them with flashy plays. “I just want to become a great player who leaves a mark in the history of LoL,” Lee says. In fact, his favorite nicknames are “‘Unkillable Demon King’ and ‘Our Hyuk,’ which are the two most recognized by global fans.”
He debuted in 2013 and is currently 27 years old. Esports is considered to be at its peak during the late teens to early twenties, when the brain works at its fastest. In this world, he’s a veteran. Many of his contemporaries have already retired or transitioned to coaching roles. There was even a time when rumors circulated that “Lee Sang-hyeok is past it.” In response, Faker succinctly stated, “I never left.” He never left, has no intention of leaving, and his fans have never left him either.
Despite his unrivaled reputation, Lee Sang-hyeok he actually finished second to China in the Asian Games trials five years ago. He’s determined to rectify that history this time around. Lee commented, “I still believe there’s a gap between us and the other participating teams, so I think there’s a very high chance of a Korea-China final in the Asian Games.” He added, “China has a home advantage. While we can’t predict all the environmental variables, our goal is to focus on our performance and train hard to achieve the best results.”
Unlike five years ago when all five team members were from different teams, this time, three of them are from the same team (T1) including Faker, so they are expecting better chemistry. Faker expressed, “If we win, I promise to sign the jerseys we wear in the finals and give them away to our fans.” The Hangzhou Asian Games will take place from September 23rd to October 8th, with esports events scheduled from September 24th to October 2nd over a span of nine days.
☞League of Legends (LoL)
An online game developed by the U.S. game company Riot Games in 2009. The game boasts a global monthly user count of 150 to 200 million players. Teams of five players each take on roles like Top, Jungle, Mid, Bottom, and Support to engage in a kind of territorial conquest known as ‘hopscotch,’ with the goal of destroying the structure called the”‘Nexus” in the opposing team’s base. Each team competes in battles to stop their opponents and advance into the enemy territory. Last year’s LoL World Championship, known as the “LoL-d Cup,” was watched by an audience of around 270 million viewers worldwide.
Girls from 12 Nations Beat the Odds of 6000:1, Ready to Conquer K-pop!
Hyundai·Samsung·KT·Kakao Join Together as “Autonomous Driving Avengers”
High School Senior Who Commuted Jeju-Seoul to Battle Cancer, Enters Great College
