What T1 reportedly had to pay for Faker's 10th anniversary return
The perhaps most well-known esports player on the planet and League of Legends icon, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok reportedly declined multi-million dollar offers from esports organisations Flyquest and Team Liquid in the past offseason.
Already deep into his tenth consecutive year with T1, newly surfaced reports reveal the high stakes behind his decision.
Several high-stakes offers
According to Esports journalist Alejandro "anonimotum" Gomis, a fierce bidding war between several high-profile esports organisations took place in order to secure the efforts of the legendary midlaner.
In a report for Blix.gg, Gomis disclosed that Flyquest's bid ranged from 3 to 5 million USD annually, with Team Liquid's offer exceeding even that. LNG Esports and Weibo Gaming were also vying for Faker's talents, yet he ultimately remained with T1 for his 10th consecutive season for a salary that is said to be comparable to the offer Team Liquid made.
The report further revealed that T1 was under significant pressure, having to consider potential alternatives like Lee "Scout" Ye-chan for their mid-laner position. In the end, T1's offer was competitive enough with Team Liquid's and secured Faker's commitment for an additional three years.
Esports icon
Faker's legacy is one of the most storied in esports history. The South Korean’s career features multiple world championships, unparalleled domestic performance, and consistent international success over his 10-year-long professional career.
His individual performances have made him one of the most recognisable faces in esports, attracting the attention of fans around the planet.
Despite this impressive record, T1 and Faker fell short in the LCK Summer Series in the finals against rival Gen.G and placed only third at the Mid-Season Invitational, falling short in the knockout stages to LPL teams JDG and BLG, failing to add to his impressive trophy case. Self-admittedly, Faker showed a tame performance which he promised to improve upon.
The LCK 2023 Summer series kicks off on June 7th, 2023 with Faker's first match of the split taking place on the 9th against Hanwha Life.
