The outburst from the usually composed Faker has sparked concern across the community.
In a shocking turn of events, League of Legends (LoL) G.O.A.T. Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok was seen headbutting a wall repeatedly in the player booth following T1's loss to Gen.G Esports in the LoL Champions Korea (LCK) Summer Split Group Stage on Saturday (August 3).
In a video that quickly circulated online, Faker can be seen standing with his teammates while reviewing some gameplay clips in the soundproof booth before suddenly turning and repeatedly banging his head against a nearby wall. His teammates initially did not notice, but as the outburst continued, T1's AD carry Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong intervened to restrain Faker and prevent further harm.
The loss against Gen.G that led to Faker's outburst was a particularly frustrating one for T1, as they were once again bested by an opponent they have struggled to overcome throughout the Summer 2024 season.
During their match, T1 initially seemed to be in a promising position. But several critical mistakes, including multiple instances where Faker was caught out of position, led to their defeat. As emotions ran high, the pressure appeared to reach a boiling point for the usually composed Faker.
Despite their dominance at the Esports World Cup and victory at Worlds 2023, T1 has consistently faltered against Gen.G, the top team in the LCK who has remained undefeated domestically this season.
Known as the steadfast leader of the T1 dynasty, Faker has been the face of competitive League of Legends for almost a decade. Throughout his career, he has maintained a calm and collected demeanor, even under intense pressure.
However, after ten years of leading one of the most popular teams in the world, the weight of expectations and the stress of competition may have finally taken their toll.
T1 is under immense scrutiny as one of the most watched and critiqued organizations in the League community. The team and its players have faced various challenges, from DDoS attacks disrupting their practice sessions to toxic criticism and pressure from fans demanding victory.
Despite international success, Faker has been dealing with personal challenges as well. He revealed in an interview with Dexerto that he has been struggling with a wrist injury that has persisted even after he took time off to recover earlier this year at MSI 2024.
Faker’s breakdown met with concern by LoL community
Faker's reaction was met with a wave of concern across the League of Legends community.
"Waking up to see the Faker video is really frightening, and it’s despicable to see some folks cheering it,” commented former LCS caster Isaac “Azael” Cummings-Bentley on X, formerly Twitter.
“The amount of pressure on pros to stay at the top of their field is immense, and even more so to do it for a decade straight.”
Former T1 Streamer currently content creator for FlyQuest Nick “LS” Decesare also posted on X, expressing that it was “Nothing but heartache genuinely.” He also said that he felt ”the same exact way as when I see a parent/etc having a hard time,” as when he watches Faker’s clip.
League streamer Feviknight also defended Faker’s performance, saying, “Faker actually excelled in game 1 and was playing extremely well with high DMG output. Saying he played bad over the Corki W mid doesn’t do justice to the rest of his performance.”
The streamer also added that “People need to stop mocking him and have some respect.”
Despite having some folks mocking the LoL GOAT, fans from all over the world expressed support with hashtags like #우리혁화팅 #OurHyeokOurSun and #We_Stand_For_Faker trending on social media.
With only two games remaining in the season and a playoff spot at stake, it is unclear whether Faker will take time away from stage play to focus on his mental health.
For now, fans and fellow players are hoping that he prioritizes his well-being as he continues to navigate the pressures of competitive play.
