Renowned as the greatest League of Legends player of all time, Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok, has remained loyal to his team T1 throughout his impressive career. Despite receiving enticing multi-million dollar offers from LCS teams, the South Korean mid laner turned them down, choosing to stay with T1. Let’s delve into the details of this remarkable decision and the potential opportunities that Faker rejected.
Faker’s Storied Legacy with T1
Since joining T1 in 2013, Faker has etched his name in the annals of League of Legends history. As T1’s longtime mid laner, he has accumulated an extraordinary list of achievements over the past decade. With three League of Legends World Championship trophies, two Mid-Season Invitational titles, and numerous victories in the League of Legends Champions Korea league, Faker’s impact on the game is unparalleled.
Multi-Million Dollar Offers on the Table
During the 2022-23 League of Legends offseason, Faker explored his options beyond T1 and received tempting offers from both Chinese and North American LCS teams. However, he made the surprising decision to reject them. According to a report by blix.gg, the offers from the LCS teams were valued in the range of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 annually.
FlyQuest and Team Liquid in the Running
Two prominent LCS teams, FlyQuest and Team Liquid, emerged as potential destinations for Faker. FlyQuest presented him with an annual salary in the previously mentioned million-dollar range, while Team Liquid’s offer reportedly exceeded that figure. The allure of Team Liquid was particularly intriguing to Faker, given the organization’s efforts to build a Korean-speaking roster. Notably, their roster included three players from South Korea: Park ‘Summit’ Woo-tae, Jo ‘CoreJJ’ Yong-in, and the 2022 world champion Hong ‘Pyosik’ Chang-hyeon.
T1’s Response and Faker’s Loyalty
During the offseason, T1 contemplated the possibility of replacing Faker but ultimately chose to retain him. The report suggests that T1’s counteroffer to Faker came close to matching Team Liquid’s proposal, solidifying Faker’s position within the team. With this decision, Faker reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to T1, the organization that nurtured and supported his illustrious career.
Despite receiving lucrative multi-million dollar offers from LCS teams, Faker remained resolute in his commitment to T1. The League of Legends legend turned down the allure of new opportunities, choosing to stay with the team that has been his home since the beginning. As the 2023 season unfolds, Faker continues to compete with T1, aiming to add more accolades to his already impressive resume.
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