Faker re-signs with T1 on a 3 year contract

The most outstanding player in the history of competitive League of Legends is a free agent no more. The T1 fan base might have had their trucks ready but CEO Joe Marsh got the job done. The unkillable Demon King is returning to T1 on a 3-year extension, running through 2025, when Faker will celebrate his 29th birthday. Re-signing Faker was T1’s number one priority this offseason, as most of their young core is signed through 2024.

T1 re-sign Faker 

The dust is settling on a wild 2022 offseason in the world of LoL Esports. Korea and Europe are experimenting with format changes, while the LCS is back into building super teams. And while rumors started circulating once again that Faker is considering offers from the LCS, nothing came out of it. It seems like a yearly occurrence for information like that to come out. Presumably it’s from Faker’s camp, to push T1’s CEO at the negotiating table. 

If you had hope in Faker suiting up for an LCS team, you will wait at least three years. The man in the mid-lane is getting a three-year contract extension. Despite coming off a disappointing loss in the Grand Finals of the World Championship. Speculations were circulating that the outcome of this series and Faker’s performance in it, might be the reason he’s willing to explore options outside of Korea. But as it currently stands, Faker will leave only when his mandatory military service forces him to do it.

Faker’s military retirement?

You might have already heard of this already. Yes, South Korea is one of the few countries in the world where a conscription system is being enforced. All men between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve mandatory military service for at least 18 months. Famous Korean pop band BTS are also facing this reality at the moment, and sooner or later, Faker’s time will come.

Conscription regulations in Korea regularly come under fire and get revisions, with the latest one coming in 2020. A lot might change before Faker is forced to retire due to these circumstances, but he should be able to play out the entirety of this contract before that happens. As it stands, if esports get recognized as an Olympic sport in the near future, Faker might be able to be relieved of his services. 

T1 coaching staff

T1 are the most accomplished brand in competitive League of Legends by far. They have had one of the best rosters in the world for two years now. Reaching the semifinals of the World Championship with 4 rookies is not easy, but T1 and Faker make it seem so. But all this talent has resulted in is an LCK title in a split in which they didn’t lose a single time. Outside of that, they have three nail-biting losses in five game series on the international stage. Two of them came in the Grand Finals of the World Championship and Mid Season Invitational in 2022. As great as the players are, they still need a coach’s guidance when the pressure is at its highest. Keep in mind, everyone besides Faker is 20 years old, with top laner Zeus 2 months away from his 19th birthday. 

Faker’s former teammate during his first three World Championships, jungler Bengi, is going to be the head coach for the 2023 season. He was Faker’s right hand during their most successful period and will now lead the new generation to the promised land. Former Head Coach Polt will be moving to the General Manager role, equipping the new coaching staff with the brightest talents. Roach, Sky and Tom will be joining Bengi on his quest to bring T1 their fourth  World Championship in the 2023 season. Roach is being promoted after 3 years of going through the T1 developmental teams, recently coaching the T1 Challengers team. Coach Tom comes from the ranks of PCS power house, PSG Talon, although he previously has coached GenG in the LCK.

Header: Twitter/ T1 LoL