Faker Named to 100 Most Influential in Sports Icons

Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok has been included in a 100 Most Influential People in Sports list in the Icons category, appearing alongside athletes such as Lionel Messi and LeBron James.

The profile highlighted Faker’s competitive record, citing a record six League of Legends World Championship titles with T1, including a recent run of three consecutive titles. He was the inaugural inductee into Riot Games’ Hall of Legends and has competed at a top level for more than a decade. He is commonly known by the nickname ‘The Unkillable Demon King.’

Off the field, Faker holds a direct ownership stake in T1 and is associated with a nine-story commercial property in Seoul known as the ‘Faker Tower.’

The profile referenced the growth of the esports industry and included a projection that the global esports market could reach about $7.46 billion by 2030.

T1’s commercial partners include Nike, Red Bull, BMW and Mercedes‑Benz. The organization reported an operating profit in the most recent year and extended the contract of CEO Joe Marsh through 2029.

Faker began his professional career with SK Telecom T1 (now T1) and remains an active player while taking part in the organization’s business activities.