Following his third World Championship title, Lee "Faker" Sang-Hyeok was offered "an unprecedented amount" to stay with SK Telecom T1 (SKT) according to South Korean esports site OSEN. Bolstering this claim, a translation of SKT's Korean press release by Inven declared Faker was offered "the best contract in eSports history." Now with the recent acquisitions of Peanut, Profit, TaeHoon, and Huni, it is up to the remaining two-thirds of the roster-- Faker, Bang, and Wolf-- to be the backbone of SKT's longstanding tradition of excellence. Amidst two roster overhauls, can we trust Faker, the sole remaining member of the victorious SKT lineup that won the Season 3 World Championship, to maintain the team's long-lasting success? Well, every statistical category insists so.

----- Faker Is Still Adept at Taking Over a Game Resistant to Letting Him Do So -----

When SK Telecom T1 claimed their second World Championship almost effortlessly in 2015, it seemed like that iteration would be destined for multiple first place titles domestically and internationally. However, SKT stumbled with the departure of MaRin, their top laner, shot caller, and team captain. Despite acquiring 2015 LCK Spring Split MVP Duke (former Najin e-mFire top laner) and winning IEM Katowice, the 2016 LCK Spring Playoffs, and the 2016 Mid-Season Invitational, SKT appeared mortal with multiple defeats littered along the way. For an organization lauded in playing their absolute best when it matters most, SKT finished 3rd place during the 2016 LCK Summer Playoffs, losing 2:3 to KT Rolster. Overlooked, SKT headed to the 2016 World Championship via championship points as a perceived underdog for the first time.

Despite a tumultuous domestic run throughout the 2016 LCK Summer Split, Bang and Faker remained SKT's two consistent forces since 2015 Spring. To better grasp Faker's consistency, let us assess his average damage to champions per minute (DMG) since 2015:

Figure 1. Photo provided byflickr.com/photos/lolesports. Data provided by oracleselixer.com

As a mid-laner in Spring 2015, Faker was head and shoulders away the best LCK mid-laner in terms of maintaining continual damage output. His DPM (678) outclassed the LCK average (517.6) by a wide margin. Among LCK mid-laners, the closest competitors for this statistical category at the time were Coco (571), GBM (560), and KurO (552). Even with growing parity amongst LCK mid-laners supplanted with the addition of Crown (657) and Mickey (620), Faker reigned supreme Summer 2016 as the leading DPM mid-laner (677). How does his damage output compare to his teammates? A look at Faker's average damage distribution to champions over the past two years (DMG%):

Figure 2. Data provided by oracleselixer.com

From Spring 2015 to Summer 2016 Faker has been the leading mid-lane DPM machine even though his DMG% has diminished for the past two years. As Figure 2 exposes, the change in DMG% despite Faker's league leading DPM is a product of bengi and Blank. Because bengi remains a constant between 2015 and 2016, we can deduce that the change in jungle DMG% (8.7% to 14.4%) is a result of the new jungle meta, from new champions to their newfound role (e.g. late game peeler to early game ganker). Despite the game's heightened reliance on teamwork and parity in terms of DMG%, we can continue to laud his incessant pressure and damage-dealing play style.

----- He Has a Champion Ocean -----

Faker's ever-growing champion pool is an indicator of his astronomic value to SKT. With all eyes on him whenever he plays, Faker transcends his peers by trendsetting the mid-lane meta game (e.g. popularizing Zilean and Xerath mid). We can better appreciate the number of unique champions Faker has played, as well as the development of his champion pool, by breaking it down via years:

Figure 3. Photo provided by flickr.com/photos/lolesports. Data provided by lol.esportspedia.com

Culminating with 43 unique champions played thus far in professional matches, Faker's unrelenting rate of assuming new champions for competitive matches is an indication of his ability to learn newly released champions while preserve existing ones in his arsenal. His boundless champion pool isn't to be mistaken with superficial play however; his league-leading DPM is a testament to the level of mastery he has in so many champions. Faker is SKT's ultimate weapon, as the team can devise any team composition-- adapt to any meta game-- with the strategic flexibility his champion pool provides.

----- He Has Myriad Play Styles -----

A player that has played 43 unique champions should be able to maximize their strategic value. Unsurprisingly enough, Faker has used them all to their utmost potential to provide his team the best odds for success. Here's a look at four of his most played (if not iconic) roles:

1. Assassins

Assassin play primarily relies on calculating champion limits. Faker may look unassuming at times, but his ability to read and react to ability outputs demands continuous supervision. Even if he isn't playing an assassin-labeled champion, Faker seemingly maximizes their potential to create unanticipated sequences. Commentators often laud Faker's ability to surgically dissect poor enemy positioning with pseudo-assassins-- mages like Azir with the ability to pick off opponents with one spell rotation.

2. Control Mages

Rather than eliminating a single priority target, most control mages rely on using champion area of effect (AOE) abilities to create offensive or defensive zones in conjunction with the terrain. Appropriately, what separates the good control mages from the great is understanding how to maximize cooldowns and respond to poor champion(s) positioning. As shown above, control mages can instantaneously alter game momentum with a single spell rotation onto one or more enemy targets.

3. Supports

You may not think of Faker as a support player, but Lulu is his second most played champion professionally with 28 games. Multifaceted, supports in the mid-lane can be used as either a source of early to mid-game damage or a facilitator dedicated in empowering ally movement speed, health, and damage. A battle-hardened tactician, Faker's sound judgment is his biggest asset, as the utility support champions provide enables him to maximize the strengths of his teammates' champions.

4. Fighters

We laud his unpredictable yet calculative play patterns, yet how many mid-laners can bring out a Riven, Master Yi, or even an Olaf into a professional match? Faker, who seemingly has a counter pick for every champion (no matter how unorthodox it may be), is most dangerous when left to his own devices during pick and bans. You cannot ban him out-- better yet, predict what he will play next.

----- He Has Cemented Himself in League of Legends History -----

Unlike most traditional sports where records are being reminded of when assessing athletes, eSports athletes are presently building the initial benchmark of excellence. In assessing those who have built a substantial legacy to League of Legends, no player has had the same level of in-game dominance or impression to the community as Faker. SKT retaining Faker means SKT retaining his personal brand and his legacy. Despite the high turnover rate of professional eSports athletes, Faker is only 20, is at the peak of his career with zero sign of decline, and will more likely than not build upon his already capacious trophy case.

1. Most Kills at World Championships
Figure 4. Photo provided by flickr.com/photos/lolesports. Data provided by thescoreesports.com

2. Twelve First Place Titles in Major Tournaments

Figure 5. Photos provided by lol.esportspedia.com

3. Most World Championship First Place Titles
Figure 6. Photo provided by flickr.com/photos/lolesports.

Like our content? Support us by getting our merchandise in our shop