Faker: Lionel Messi of League of Legends is ‘Unkillable Demon King’

Asian Games 2023 is a trendsetter as it features esports as an official medal sport, and fans have come from distant lands to watch their legends live!  One such crowd drawer is the Faker – Lee Sang-hyeok who is the top of League of Legends. 

Lee, who is the first player to have reached 700 games and 2,500 kills in League of Legends Champions Korea, is leading the South Korean team. The 27-year-old is a avid gamer and is among the biggest names at the 19^th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. 

Faker is the Unkillable Demon King

Lee’s unofficial nickname is “Unkillable Demon King”, and he has to live up to this name! Regarded as the Lionel Messi of League of Legends, Lee rose up from the ranks of an amateur to that of a pro. He used to play under the handle “GoJeonPa”, and began playing for team SK in 2013. Faker has seen his fair share of tough opponents and competitions, like in 2017 when he was left in tears. 

But that made him stronger and a better player. Lee shared that mind control is very important. “I usually judge myself and try to overcome myself, so I make myself a role model and work hard.” Now, the Unkillable Demon King  is esport’s GOAT. Lee said that initially, he wasn’t comfortable with the title, but now he feels proud. 

He is in his 11^th year as a gamer. Faker believes there’s no drastic link between a player’s age and performance. “My strength is understanding the flow of the game, when to fight and when not to fight. Regardless of which champion I play, the strength is there.” 

League of Legends (LOL)

Lee is set to play the multiplayer battle arena game – League of Legends (LOL). The SK team is set to play against Hong Kong and Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, China and India. League of Legends was developed by Riot Games in 2009. It boasts more than 150 million players around the world. LOL is considered one of the world’s most popular esports. 

Like football, players have to play in a team and support each other by engaging, splitting and poking.