The match day of February 16 in the Spring 2024 LCK season sparked heightened interest among League of Legends players, thanks to several unexpected choices by participating teams.

The LCK, renowned for its adherence to the meta and traditional picks, witnessed a refreshing wave of experimentation during the group stage matches.

Among the intriguing selections, three stood out prominently, captivating both commentators and fans alike. Firstly, DNDN’s decision to use Garen in the top lane during Game 2 against Kwangdong Freecs and FearX sparked considerable attention.

While Garen’s utilization to counter K’Sante in the top lane has been witnessed in other leagues, it marked a historic first for the LCK, a tournament with over a decade of rich history. The mere presence of Garen in an LCK match after so many years injected an element into the gameplay, breaking away from the league’s conventional choices.

Similarly, Pyosik’s adoption of Rammus in the Jungle between KT Rolster and Nongshim RedForce added another layer of excitement. Recognizing the opponent’s heavy reliance on Physical Damage champions, the Worlds 2022 champion strategically opted for Rammus, marking the champion’s first appearance in the LCK Jungle position in over a decade, dating back to the 2013 Winter.

Furthermore, BeryL’s unconventional selection of Zyra as Support introduced a fresh dynamic to the gameplay, with the champion having been absent from the LCK for more than three years.

Despite Garen’s lackluster performance, both Rammus and Zyra emerged victorious, showcasing the potential for teams to confidently introduce more surprises in future matches.

The inclusion of these off-meta picks not only piqued the interest of viewers but also hinted at a shift towards a more dynamic and unpredictable meta within the tournament. As teams continue to explore unconventional strategies, spectators eagerly anticipate the emergence of many other unexpected champions in future matches, promising an exhilarating viewing experience for all.

The match against DK, while anticipated as a predictable win for Faker and his teammates given DK’s diminished competitive prowess compared to previous years, nonetheless captivated audiences with the stellar performance of both teams, particularly T1’s rising stars under Faker’s leadership.

Pre-match discussions hinted at Keria’s potential struggle with form, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the game.

Post-match, Zeus emerged as the standout player, boasting the highest number of solo kills in the 2024 Spring LCK season, totaling an impressive 13 victories in 1v1. His ability to consistently outplay opponents underscores his strategic prowess and willingness to take risks. Keria’s unexpected presence on the solo kill list, a rarity for support players, further highlights T1’s multifaceted strength.

Meanwhile, Faker’s stellar performance earned him the title of the player with the highest POG (Player of the Game) score in the Spring 2024 LCK season, standing at an unmatched 500 points.

His exemplary display against DK serves as a testament to his experience and fearlessness on the Rift, earning him the moniker of the “Demon King” among fans. While not overshadowing ShowMaker, Faker’s strategic prowess consistently outmaneuvers opponents, leading to successful ganks by Oner and tilting the scales in T1’s favor.

The victory against DK propels T1 to the summit of the Spring 2024 LCK standings, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the season. With the second leg of the season looming ahead, T1’s newfound confidence promises an exciting journey filled with challenges and triumphs.

As fans marvel at Faker’s enduring legacy and T1’s unwavering dominance, the stage is set for a thrilling continuation of their quest for supremacy in the world of League of Legends esports.

Faker reached 3000 kills and 600 wins

However, this week, the legendary player added two more to his cap, further solidifying his legendary status. The League of Legends community has been abuzz with excitement as Faker reached a monumental milestone: 3000 kills in the fiercely competitive LCK.

This extraordinary feat transpired during a riveting showdown against BRO Gideon, propelling Faker into a league of his own as the first LCK player to achieve this remarkable benchmark. It’s a testament to his enduring prowess and longevity in the league, spanning an impressive 11-year tenure.

Faker’s ascent to the pinnacle of LCK’s kill charts mirrors the achievements of his counterparts in the LPL. Prior to his milestone, players like Rookie and Xiaohu had already etched their names in the record books by surpassing the 3000-kill mark in the LPL.

However, his achievement signifies his indomitable presence and dominance within the LCK, where he has continually reigned supreme.

His consistent displays of excellence, coupled with his strategic acumen and relentless pursuit of victory, have endeared him to fans worldwide. With each kill, Faker cements his legacy as an icon of the game.

Moreover, his milestone extends beyond mere kill counts. His 600th overall victory, secured against DRX, exemplifies his unrivaled dominance in the league. Surpassing competitors like KT Rolster’s esteemed ADC and former world champion, Deft, by over 150 wins underscores Faker’s unparalleled longevity and success since his debut in 2013.

Remarkably, these victories only scratch the surface of his illustrious career, which boasts countless triumphs on the international stage. In the eyes of many, Faker stands as the undisputed pinnacle of League of Legends mastery.

K’Sante, a champion hailing from the desert lands of Shurima, has been a peculiar addition to the League roster since his introduction. Designed to diverge from the traditional tanks, K’Sante was intended to bring a fresh dynamic to the top lane with mobility and greater potential for skillful plays.

K’Sante has become a boring champion to watch in League of Legends

The concept of K’Sante revolves around being more than just a damage-absorbing champion. His kit allows for fast movement and the capability to execute impressive outplays.

However, the frequency of these outplays in professional games speaks volumes about the strengths of K’Sante as a champion, rather than highlighting the individual skills of the players. This has led to K’Sante becoming a predominant choice in the top lane for pro play.

Over the past year, particularly in the LCK, K’Sante has maintained an impressive 60% pick-ban rate. His popularity stems from his ability to fulfill the roles expected of a top laner: self-sufficiency, tanking abilities, and the power to eliminate an enemy from a teamfight with proper positioning.

Despite K’Sante’s effectiveness on the field, his dominance in the pro scene has sparked a degree of controversy. Some League players argue that the overreliance on K’Sante in professional matches detracts from the excitement and unpredictability that fans crave.

This sentiment was echoed by a player on the League of Legends subreddit, who expressed frustration at the predictability and seeming invincibility of K’Sante in pro play. The player criticized K’Sante’s scaling ability, his resilience to damage, and his combination of CC and damage, which collectively make him a less engaging champion to watch.

“The 4 months stalled meta is boring to watch. I have no problem with a Ksante game, problem comes when it’s pick it ban in 99% of the pro play games.”

“Its boring because he can be shited on half Game and then suddenly he outscales everyone else.”

The community’s call for more dynamic and active professional games is not new. This desire for a shift in the competitive meta was also evident in the response to the removal of the Stopwatch item at the onset of the League of Legends 2024 season.

Players have consistently shown a preference for League of Legends’ meta that promotes a variety of strategies and champion picks, ensuring a more vibrant and unpredictable competitive scene.

Given his extensive career and numerous achievements, Faker consistently finds opportunities to break records. Between 2022 and 2023, it seemed as though every game played by Faker added another remarkable record to his already illustrious list of accomplishments.

In a recent match against Kwangdong Freecs during the 2024 Spring LCK, T1 secured a decisive 2-0 victory. While the professional significance of this match may not have been particularly noteworthy, as T1 demonstrated their dominance over Kwangdong Freecs, it was another occasion for Faker to etch his name in the record books.

Despite the lack of intense competition, T1’s strategic triumph served as a psychological boost for the team following their loss to Gen.G on the tournament’s opening day.

Individually, Faker once again broke a record, adding to his legacy. In this instance, he became the first player to play Corki in a professional match and maintain an undefeated streak spanning 19 consecutive matches, a feat dating back to the 2020 Spring LCK.

Remarkably, he has sustained this milestone for almost four years, emphasizing the enduring nature of his exceptional gameplay. Additionally, his win rate with Corki stands at an impressive 75%, further highlighting his mastery of the champion.

It’s worth noting that Corki hasn’t always been a prominent pick in the meta, and it has been one of Faker’s less frequently used champions throughout his career. Since 2016, Faker has used Corki in only 50 matches, excluding those in which the champion was banned.

This becomes even more noteworthy considering that, in the game against Kwangdong Freecs, the T1 mid laner chose Corki over Ahri, a highly popular champion, marking a departure from his typical selections.

Corki, known for its complexity and requiring specific conditions to be effective in a game, adds an additional layer of significance to Faker’s milestone. Given that Corki is not currently a meta favorite, his achievement becomes even more exceptional.

This contract type is common in sports, particularly for veteran players, mitigating issues such as injuries or waning motivation that may arise during the contract period.

Faker talked about T1 and rumors about LPL contract

When Faker’s contract nears expiration, the LPL has historically shown great interest. His renown and influence could undoubtedly elevate the LPL, but the challenge lies in identifying a team capable of affording him.

This task is complicated given the T1 mid laner’s high salary and numerous advertising contracts. However, reports suggest that certain LPL teams have offered contracts surpassing those of many athletes in traditional sports.

Faker recently addressed these rumors on the You Quiz On The Block program, he admitted:

“My goal has always been continuous learning and titles, not money and fame. Not to mention that T1 treats me very well, I’m pretty good here so I don’t think there’s any reason to leave. As for that (it was reported that LPL offered Faker a contract of up to 24 billion won), the actual number is not like that, there will be a difference and it is just speculation.”

He acknowledges that his primary focus is on learning and achieving titles, not financial gain or fame. He emphasized T1’s excellent treatment and his satisfaction with the team, stating there’s no reason to leave. Regarding reported LPL contract offers, he clarified that the actual figures differ, and such claims are speculative.

Furthermore, Faker disclosed that T1’s prize money for winning the Worlds 2023 championship is approximately 1 billion won (around $770,000). This significant amount serves as a motivating factor, especially after a challenging year filled with ups and downs.

With the incentives provided by T1 and the opportunity to contend for titles alongside his young, promising teammates, it appears highly unlikely that Faker would consider moving to another team, let alone a different region. This underscores the increasing focus on Esports players, contributing to the development of aspiring young players in the industry.

T1 won multiple awards this year

The event unfolded on December 19 at the S-Plex Center Building in Seoul, South Korea, where T1 League of Legends (LoL) not only clinched the coveted title of Esports Team of the Year but also celebrated the individual players.

•         Esports Team of the Year

•         2023 Stars – Choi “Zeus” Woo-je

•         2023 Stars – Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok

•         2023 Stars – Ryu “Keria” Min-seok

These accolades were determined through an impressive fan vote, witnessing a remarkable turnout of around 20,000 fans—an astounding fourfold increase compared to the previous year.

The anticipation surrounding the nominations for Zeus, Faker, and Keria was entirely justified, given their performances throughout 2023. The trio notably represented Korea at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China, securing the gold medal and bringing honor to their country.

As the year drew to a close, T1 and its player roster continued to collect many awards. At the Esports Awards 2023, T1 clinched the distinguished title of Esports Team of the Year, underscoring their undisputed excellence in the competitive gaming landscape.

Faker, a perennial icon in the esports world, earned the well-deserved title of Esports PC Player of the Year at the same ceremony.

Further adding to the list of achievements, Faker’s exceptional contributions were recognized at The Game Awards 2023, where he was crowned Best Esports Athlete.

T1 was further underscored by their remarkable performance in the All LCK 1st Team during the Spring season, with individual players from their roster sweeping awards in various position-specific categories.

Faker’s accolades continued to pile up as he was rightfully honored as the Player of the Year, solidifying his status as a legend in the esports arena. Keria, equally deserving, emerged as the most decorated player, standing out with many awards that spoke volumes about his exceptional contributions to T1’s success.

In essence, T1’s journey through the Esports Hall of Fame 2023 Induction Ceremony and subsequent award ceremonies serves as a testament to their unparalleled excellence, not only as a team but also as individual players who have left a mark on the global esports stage.

The illustrious Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok got confirmed death threats earlier this week.

Death threats were made against T1’s mid laner, and local police in Seoul reacted. Additionally, cars were seen outside the organization’s offices. According to a report, the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency is looking into a threat against Faker’s life.

Faker and his Death Threats

According to the translation provided by Reddit user u/HumbleTheorizer, a post with the subject “I will go to T1’s dormitory tomorrow to cut off Faker’s wrist” has appeared online.

On a Korean message board, a member made a death threat and described in great detail how he would kill mid laner Faker.

A commenter declared in the post that the subject would visit T1’s dorm and “cut off this fatherless bastard’s wrist and behead him with kitchen knife.” This occurs only a week after many stabbings in South Korea, one of which injured 14 people.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reported the post, and it is currently collaborating with local authorities to try to identify the person who made the threats. In an effort to hunt down the subject and detain them, they are utilising IP tracking.

“The LCK appreciates everyone’s cooperation to provide a safe environment for fans and teams to enjoy the rest of the 2023 LCK Summer,”

The LCK ceased their statement as the probe gained momentum. The LCK intends to “strengthen LoL Park security” for the remaining Playoffs and Finals, according to the tweet.

The intensity before the LCK Playoffs has only increased as a result of this stunning threat. This season, Faker has struggled with a persistent wrist injury, but he has returned with renewed energy.

The author of the message has not yet been discovered, but the authorities are still looking and investigating into it.

After admitting that he had been playing despite discomfort due to an arm issue that started in the June 17 match against BRION, the LCK player has been sidelined from competition since the beginning of the month.

Although Bae ‘Bengi’ Seong-woong, the team’s previous head coach, stated that the player would need to rest for at least two weeks, T1 did not specify a timeline for his return to action.

Updates on Faker’s arm injury

The earliest game that Faker may play in again is rumoured to be week 7 series versus Hanwha Life Esport on July 21. However, there was no assurance that he would be able to overcome the issue and return to competition in just two weeks.

Tom, who recently took over Bengi as head coach, stated in the interview after the team’s victory over Nongshim RedForce on July 14 that the team still does not know when Faker would be able to resume playing.

“Bengi said two weeks, but I think we need to talk more about it,”

“I think Faker will need more time to come back”

“If his condition improves, he will compete, but for now, the condition of his wrist comes first. We’ll have to see how he plays next week. I can’t talk about it right now.”

The T1 mid-laner status is unknown, but it is obvious that he won’t be sent back into playing just yet.

After last week’s disheartening losses to DRX and Gen.G, the team turned things around by defeating Nongshim 2-0, putting on a strong performance that shows they can at least hold their own until Faker returns.

T1 and Dplus both have a 7-4 record going into their match on Sunday, and T1 is now fourth in the LCK Summer rankings. Hopefully, with the absence of Faker, T1 can still climb up the ladder.

Unfortunately, the team recently revealed that the 27-year-old player will be taking a break for 2 weeks and will be replaced in the starting lineup.

 “For now, we’re thinking Faker is taking at least two weeks off,”

“Then, we’ll see the progress of his recovery from there.”

This means he will miss several crucial LCK Summer matchups, with only four remaining until the playoffs. T1 is presently third in the rankings, just a few points ahead of teams like as Dplus KIA, Hanwha Life Esports, and Kwangdong Freecs.

Why is Faker taking a break from LoL?

The veteran player has pulled out from T1’s starting lineup due to an arm injury sustained since June 17, after his game versus OK BRION.

According to T1, Faker has been experiencing discomfort in his right arm and hand that has not improved in recent weeks. Various examinations and x-rays have revealed no anomalies, which is a good indication, but the player will be sidelined while he recovers and receives therapy. As predicted, the team will place him in the best physical treatment and rehabilitation programmes available.

While he recovers, T1 will be led by Academy mid laner Yoon “Poby” Sung-won. After gaining his big break via the team’s amateur programme, T1 Rookies, the 17-year-old talent has spent his brief career with the organisation.

Unfortunately, T1 lost their series 2-0 when Faker was replaced by Poby. This was the player’s first appearance on the LCK stage, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities to establish himself in the coming weeks.

On Saturday, July 8, T1 will play against first-placed Gen.G.