Faker leads South Korea to second straight Asian Games League of Legends gold

After helping South Korea to its second straight Asian Games gold medal in League of Legends in Japan on Friday, esports great Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, had this message for young, aspiring gamers.

"I hope children will find something they can be passionate about and enjoy their pursuit," he told reporters at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, just south of the main Asiad host, Nagoya, where South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0. "Games are certainly immersive and addictive, and I hope they will not fall too deep into gaming. It can be difficult to have that self-control when they are young, and I hope they will talk with their parents and have healthy gaming habits."

Esports made its Asiad debut in 2018 as a demonstration sport, meaning that medals won did not count toward the official standings. When it officially joined the competition in Hangzhou, China, in 2023, South Korea won the inaugural LoL gold medal, with Faker getting rock star treatment in gaming-crazed China.

South Korea is now the back-to-back LoL champion.

"I am so happy and proud to be part of the esports national team," Faker said. "This is all thanks to my teammates who practiced hard and took great care of themselves."

Faker did not play in the final, with Kim Geon-woo, or Zeka, taking on the role of the mid laner.

"There could be some personal disappointment over not playing in the final, but the bigger goal here was to win the gold medal for the team," Faker said. "I did my best during that process, and so I have no regrets. I was moved by the way my teammates battled so hard in the face of some early Chinese Taipei onslaught. That kind of tenacity is what makes sports so great. If our fans were inspired by this and took positive messages from this, then it means a lot to me."

Zeka said he felt the burden of expectations in his Asian Games debut and thanked Faker for offering him valuable advice.

Choi Woo-je, or Zeus, one of three returning members from the 2023 gold medal squad, said, "I would love to have a chance to win three straight gold medals."

Faker said he and his teammates had been subsisting on convenience store food during the competition and they will celebrate their gold medal with a big team dinner.

When asked if he will pick up the tab, Faker, one of the wealthiest esports players ever, smiled and said, "No comment."