Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as “Faker” from T1, was named the 2024 Player of the Year at the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Awards held on Nov. 29. Faker expressed his gratitude during his acceptance speech, promising fans, that he will show an even better performance next year.
The LCK hosted the awards at Art Hall 1 of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. The annual event recognizes standout players across various categories, including Player of the Year and positional awards such as Top, Jungle, Mid, Bottom, and Support Player of the Year. Winners are determined through votes cast by media professionals and analysts.
The ceremony adopted a somber tone this year, reflecting on the tragic Jeju Air plane accident earlier that morning at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province). In light of the incident, the event shifted to a pre-recorded broadcast, and the red-carpet portion was canceled.
Faker, who clinched the Player of the Year title, said during a press conference that he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his performance this year, but receiving the award felt like a great encouragement. He also noted that he wanted to acknowledge the morning’s tragedy and offer his condolences, which is why it was the first thing he addressed during his special award speech.
Reflecting on the year, he admitted, “The most challenging time was during the summer and Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) when I didn’t perform well and faced uncertainty about the future. Still, I’m glad I pushed through. Winning Worlds and achieving such a remarkable result stands out as the most unforgettable moment.”
Looking ahead, Faker highlighted changes coming to the LCK. “With the LCK Cup being introduced and the regular season now unified, it’s exciting. The LCK Cup will use a fearless draft system, which should make it even more enjoyable to watch,” he said.
Faker’s stellar night didn’t end with the Player of the Year award. He also won the OP.GG Search King Award and Mid Player of the Year, securing a triple crown at the event.
T1 players dominated the positional awards at the 2024 LCK Awards. Winners included Choi Woo-je (“Zeus”) as Top Player of the Year, Moon Hyeon-jun (“Oner”) as Jungle Player of the Year, Lee Sang-hyeok (“Faker”) as Mid Player of the Year, Lee Min-hyung (“Gumayusi”) as Bottom Player of the Year, and Ryu Min-seok (“Keria”) as Support Player of the Year.
