Faker reveals how he stays at the top after 13 years of his career

In a recent interview with Fortune Korea, the legendary Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok revealed the mindset required to endure nearly thirteen years of professional grind since his debut in the LCK. The veteran, who has been prematurely labeled as "finished" by hasty analysts more times than can be counted, detailed his journey and how he tackles the age barrier in a scene that usually discards talent before even hitting 25. Interestingly, while new midlaners emerge with more flashy mechanics, Faker's consistency remains the balance for T1, proving that reaction time is not the sole pillar of a champion.

The turning point occurred in 2018. After securing his third world championship, the player started to question if decline was inevitable. "At that time, the belief that esports careers were short was very strong, and I felt like I couldn't escape that trend. However, a part of me wondered: Is it really right to be sidelined helplessly just because of my age? Can't I prove that it doesn't have to be this way?" the South Korean confessed. This doubt turned into fuel, resulting in even more rigorous training that led to the series of titles and finals we witnessed in the following years, including the epic comeback in 2023 after a wrist injury that nearly ended his career prematurely.

"Can I continue for longer and keep proving myself? From that moment on, I trained even harder." — stated Faker, who now holds a status that transcends the server, appearing on Korean stamps and Goyard campaigns.

The recipe to keep the mind sharp away from the keyboard involves a constant habit of reading, especially about psychology. This explains a lot about the player's emotional control, as seen in the 2025 final organized by Riot Games, where he practically gave "therapy lessons" to his teammates amidst the match's tension. Currently, T1 is experiencing a period of instability in the spring of 2026, with coach Kkoma on leave and mixed results against KT Rolster and Hanwha Life. Although some fear the team might be finally "overdone," history teaches us that doubting this squad's ability to adapt is often a grave mistake.

The staying power of Faker at the top is a victory against professional burnout, a systemic issue that organizations like ZETA DIVISION are trying to combat. Even if he's no longer the most individually explosive player, his game sense and leadership ensure that he continues to be the gravitational center of global League of Legends. It's a career of perseverance that silenced the critics in 2018 and continues to challenge the logic of a market that only idolizes the new.