Faker Extends T1 Contract Until 2029, Cementing a 17-Year Legacy

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, the legendary South Korean mid laner widely considered the greatest player in esports history, has officially renewed his contract with T1 until 2029. With this extension, Faker is set to spend a remarkable 17 years with the organization he first joined in 2013.

Over the course of his career, Faker has claimed six League of Legends World Championship titles, including an unprecedented run of three consecutive victories. His most recent Worlds triumph came just last month. Speaking at a press briefing in Seoul on December 18, Faker highlighted that T1 has offered far more than financial stability, giving him a platform to inspire fans and contribute to the long-term growth of the game in the years ahead.

At 29 years old, Faker made it clear that age has not diminished his competitive ambitions. He expressed confidence in his ability to maintain elite performance, stating that continuing to demonstrate a high level of skill remains deeply meaningful to him. He also described his role as a figurehead of esports as an honor, viewing the responsibility to fans as a privilege rather than a burden.

Faker also drew attention with his comments on a potential future match against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence, Grok. He welcomed the growing interest of AI and major technology companies in gaming, noting that while chess has long been dominated by artificial intelligence, he still believes human players have a chance to prevail in a competitive match scheduled for next year.