Faker
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Faker Adds Another Trophy to His Legendary Collection – Because of Course He Did

When you think you’ve seen everything there is to see from Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, the man goes ahead and proves you wrong. Again. The League of Legends legend just snagged the Esports PC Player of the Decade award, and honestly, we’re running out of ways to act surprised at this point.

But here’s the thing—this isn’t just another shiny trinket for Faker’s already overflowing trophy case. This prize represents something greater than individual success. It’s a monument to a career that has fundamentally changed what it means to be great in professional gaming.

Why Faker’s Latest Award is More Important Than You Think.

Let’s be honest for a second. In a world where gaming careers may burn out faster than a bad Baron call, Faker has maintained his dominance for more than a decade. That’s not just stunning; it’s almost supernatural. The Esports PC Player of the Decade award recognizes not just his brilliance, but also his role as the face of League of Legends esports.

Think about it: How many players can you name who’ve stayed relevant, let alone dominant, across multiple metas, roster changes, and game evolutions? Faker has weathered every storm the Rift has thrown at him and somehow emerged stronger each time. When other legends have hung up their keyboards, this man keeps finding new ways to remind us why he’s called the GOAT.

T1’s Dynasty Continues to Dominate Awards Season

T1 Roster 2025
Image of T1 Roster courtesy of T1 and LoL Now

But wait, there’s more! (And no, this isn’t a late-night infomercial.) The Esports Awards turned into a T1 and League of Legends victory lap that would make even the most confident team blush. T1 claimed the Esports Team of the Decade award—shocking absolutely no one who’s watched competitive League in the past few years.

Their coach, KKoma, also took home the Esports Coach of the Decade trophy, because apparently, excellence runs in the family at T1. It’s like watching the same team win every Oscar category—impressive, slightly annoying for everyone else, but undeniably deserved.

Meanwhile, League of Legends itself grabbed the Esports Game of the Decade award, while Riot Games secured the Esports Publisher of the Decade title. At this point, you have to wonder if they left any awards for the other nominees or if they just decided to redecorate their offices with new hardware.

The AR Dragon That Changed Everything

Remember Worlds 2017? Of course, you do—it’s impossible to forget that jaw-dropping moment when an AR dragon soared over Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium. That technological marvel didn’t just win an award; it redefined what esports production could be. Riot did not simply throw some flashy graphics on screen and call it a day. They produced a moment that made everyone there feel as if they were experiencing something truly extraordinary.

That dragon became a symbol of esports’ evolution from modest tournaments in tight venues to stadium-filling spectacles with production values that rival traditional sports. It’s little surprise that moment garnered attention—it demonstrated to the globe that esports was more than just playing games; it was about creating experiences.

What This Means for League of Legends Going Forward

With Worlds 2025 returning to China, expectations are high. Riot has established a really high standard for itself, and supporters aren’t known for being patient when it comes to championship-level production. The pressure to deliver something that tops that legendary AR dragon moment is real.

But if we’ve learned anything from watching Faker and League of Legends over the years, it’s that they appear to thrive under pressure. Just when you think they can’t possibly raise the bar any higher, they find a way to make your jaw drop all over again.

The Legacy that Keeps Growing

What makes Faker’s story, so captivating is more than simply the medals and highlight reel-worthy plays. It’s about consistency. For so long, the man has set the gold standard for League of Legends greatness that newer players are likely to believe his level of domination is normal. Spoiler alert: it absolutely is not.

This recent accolade serves as a reminder that we are witnessing something extremely uncommon in the gaming world. Faker is not just playing League of Legends—he is writing its history. game at a time. And based on his recent performance, it doesn’t look like he’s planning on putting down the pen anytime soon.

So yeah, Faker added another award to his collection. At this point, we should probably stop being surprised and start appreciating the fact that we get to watch greatness in real time. Because legends like this don’t come around often, and when they do, they tend to stick around just long enough to remind everyone else what true excellence looks like.

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