Faker makes it into the top 10 of The Times’ Top 10 Sports Powers

A pioneer and master of his craft, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, has secured a solid place among global sports greats by being included in the prestigious Times’ exclusive list of the “10 Greatest Sports Stars in the World in 2023.”

In an impressive panorama of athletes such as Lionel Messi, Shohei Ohtani, Sam Kerr, and KSI, Faker stands out as an outstanding representative of the esports world. The Times, which typically doesn’t cover esports in the sports section, emphasizes that the day Faker becomes a mainstream star of the Olympic Games is not too far away—a comparison that places him in the footsteps of legends like Usain Bolt. This year has been highly successful for him, securing his fourth Worlds trophy, winning the Asian Games, claiming the LCK Awards 2023, and now being among the Times’ Top 10 Sports Powers!

Faker doesn’t just dominate the global esports stage

Known as “The Unkillable Demon King,” Faker has not only achieved his fourth World Championship title but also won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Additionally, he was named the Player of the Year at the LCK Awards 2023. At the beginning of 2024, Faker remains an integral part of the T1 team, where he has spent his entire career — a rarity in the dynamic world of LoL Esports.

연합뉴스 – 영국 더 타임스지, 스포츠계 파워 10인에 ‘페이커’선정 pic.twitter.com/tZH7KSrMew

— 식곰 (@sicgom_esports) December 16, 2023

The Times has included Faker in the list of the 10 greatest sports stars in the world in 2023. The list includes football player Lionel Messi, MLB player Shohei Ohtani, women’s football player Sam Kerr, and YouTuber and boxer KSI. Faker’s face was featured in the center of the Times’ online image.

The Times predicts the rise of the Unkillable Demon King

The Times explained that they usually do not report on esports in the sports section, but the day Faker becomes a mainstream star of the Olympic Games, like Usain Bolt, is not far away. They introduced Faker with his nickname, “The Unkillable Demon King.”

THE GRIND // THE GLORY pic.twitter.com/hqfGK1T3io

— LoL Esports (@lolesports) November 20, 2023

This year, Faker secured his fourth World Championship title by defeating Weibo Gaming in the finals—a feat no one else has accomplished. He also won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. At the LCK Awards 2023, he was honored as the Player of the Year.

At the beginning of 2024, Faker is still with T1, the team where he has played his entire career, with the same teammates as in 2023, which is rare in the LoL Esports scene.