Faker The Unkillable Demon King
Early Life and Introduction to League of Legends
The Making of a Legend
Lee Sang-hyeok was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1996. Raised by his father and grandparents, he was a quiet and introspective child. He wasn't drawn to the typical hobbies of his peers. Instead, he loved solving puzzles and building things with Legos, often preferring to play and learn by himself.
His journey into gaming began not with a grand plan, but with simple curiosity. He started with popular PC games in South Korea, such as the real-time strategy game Warcraft III and one of its popular mods, Chaos. These early experiences helped him develop strategic thinking and quick reflexes, skills that would become crucial later on.
A New Arena
In 2011, the Korean servers for a new game called League of Legends opened up. Lee, like many others, decided to give it a try. He was immediately captivated. The game's complexity, requiring both mechanical skill and deep strategic understanding, appealed to his puzzle-solving nature. He didn't just play; he studied the game, analyzing every aspect to understand how it worked.
He began climbing the competitive ladder in solo queue, the game's individual ranking system. Playing under the name "Go-jeon-pa" (고전파), which translates to "Classical School," he quickly became known for his aggressive and dominant playstyle. Other high-level players were stunned by his skill. It wasn't long before he reached the number one spot on the Korean server, a feat that put him on the radar of professional teams.
His rapid ascent from a casual player to the top-ranked player in Korea was unprecedented, signaling the arrival of a major new talent.
The Call to Go Pro
In 2013, the famed esports organization SK Telecom T1 was looking to build a new League of Legends team. They needed a mid-laner, and the mysterious, top-ranked player "Go-jeon-pa" was their primary target. After being scouted, Lee decided to drop out of high school to pursue a professional career, a bold move that would change the course of his life and the history of esports.
He adopted the new in-game name "Faker" and joined the team SK Telecom T1 K. This marked the end of his time as an unknown prodigy and the beginning of a legendary career. The quiet boy who loved puzzles had found his ultimate challenge.