Faker at Asian Games 2023: who is Lee Sang-hyeok and how much is the Lionel Messi of League of Legends worth?
- At the top of his game for more than a decade, he’s been compared to Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi
- A two-time world champion with 10 South Korean titles to his name, Faker is looking to add Asian Games gold to his collection
He was mobbed at the airport when he arrived in Hangzhou for the Asian Games and he has been called the Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi of League of Legends (LoL), but Lee Sang-hyeok is different, because is undoubtedly the best to ever play his game.
Better known as “Faker”, the South Korean mid-laner boasts three World Championships, two Mid-Season Invitationals, 10 national titles, and a highlight reel of the most iconic one-on-ones in the game’s history.
The 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou are the first to host esports competitively and anyone hoping to bring home gold in LoL will have to beat the best there has ever been.
On Monday, Lee’s South Korea beat Hong Kong 1-0 in their first group match and will take on Kazakhstan to see who tops the group and moves to the knockout rounds and a clash with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India and China all start in quarter-finals because of their performances in the qualification tournament, which South Korea did not enter.
Lee’s gamer tag is synonymous with mind-blowing plays – just as backyard ballers yell ‘Kobe’ after a tricky jumpshot – and his official nickname is “Unkillable Demon King”.
