The King is Back?

T1 Faker to Take Back His Throne

The League of Legends World Championship is among us once again, as this year’s qualifiers conclude to
determine which teams get to compete. One of these teams, is of course South Korea’s T1. After a
shocking absence from last year’s Worlds, and a start of the 2021 season with the team’s mid-laner
Faker on the bench, fans were left wondering if the legendary team’s reign has come to an end. It’s no
question that the year 2020 was a difficult time for Faker and the rest of the team, having been
inconsistent and lacking their usual form throughout the season.

Though it seems that T1 have made their comeback, defeating Hanwha Life Esports 3-2 in the LCK
regional finals and securing their spot in this year’s Worlds stage for the team’s 7th appearance in this
competition. It’s safe to say that almost every League of Legends fan knows who Faker is, perhaps the
most well-known and arguably the best player of all time. Having won the World Championship three
times, with numerous awards under his belt since his debut in 2013, 25-year-old Faker has been dubbed
the Unkillable Demon King.

But a new king is coming, and his name is ShowMaker from South Korea’s Damwon Gaming Kia. The 21-
year-old is being considered as the best midlaner since he excelled at last year’s Worlds with DK,
defeating more experienced and well-known teams to stand on top as 2020’s World Champions.

Unfortunately, T1’s rough patch included defeat after defeat against DK, which left everyone asking the
question, “Is T1 past their prime?” or more specifically, “Is Faker past his prime?” And although Faker’s
performance has been a hot topic in Esports in the recent years, he is still undoubtedly one of the best.

“As long as I remain a pro player, it’ll be hard for a player to overcome my career. I still believe that I am
the best in the world, so I’m not too worried. I’m just focused on self-development” says the star player
in a 2020 interview with Inven Global.

The difference between T1 and DK is synergy and consistency. The constant player changes take a toll on
T1’s gameplay, whereas DK’s team is sturdy and unchanging. T1 is a strong team, but there are problems
to be fixed if they want to take back the top spot.

The Unkillable Demon King’s return has been widely anticipated, and fans are looking forward to him
taking back his throne as the world’s best League of Legends player. But before he can achieve this,
Faker must go through this season’s top teams, and the rising kings.