Following their commanding performance in the Worlds finals, every member of T1’s roster��Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong, Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon, and Ryu “Keria” Min-seok��clinched individual awards in their respective positions, solidifying their dominance.
The success reaffirms Faker’s status as the “Unkillable Demon King”, standing tall at the summit of League of Legends greatness.
The LCK Awards, a celebration of the stars in the Korean region, spotlighted outstanding players in each role: top, mid, bottom, jungle, and support.
T1’s clean sweep of these awards underscored their exceptional teamwork and individual brilliance.
Despite facing tough competition, the T1 lineup left no room for doubt about their deserving victories, especially after securing the LoL World Championship title on home ground, redeeming themselves from the previous year’s setback.
The 2023 season didn’t kick off with the same dominance that marked its conclusion.
In the Spring Split, T1 fell short of first place to Gen.G but still secured a spot in the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).
Unfortunately, their hopes of MSI victory were dashed by LPL’s JDG.
The setbacks continued in the summer with another defeat to Gen.G, compounded by Faker’s mid-lane absence due to injury.
However, the World Championship became the stage for T1’s redemption. Faker’s return to the starting roster, coupled with the unchanged roster, fueled their determination.
Zeus, the top lane player, showcased exceptional skills, earning his second Top Lane of the Year Award and the MVP title after the Worlds final.
Faker, the linchpin of T1, earned the overall Player of the Year, celebrated with the words “Legends never die”.
The LCK Awards sweep serves as a poignant reminder that a season’s trajectory can transform from a shaky start to a triumphant finish.
T1’s resilience and commitment demonstrated that setbacks are opportunities for comebacks.
In a broader context, 2023 was a remarkable year for South Korea in esports.
The Hangzhou Asian Games marked the debut of esports as a medal category, where South Korea secured four medals, including a gold from their national LoL team.
Additionally, South Korea hosted the League of Legends World Championship, a monumental event in the esports calendar.
T1, as the last remaining South Korean roster at Worlds, defied the odds to defeat every LPL opponent and claim their fourth Worlds title.
As 2023 concludes with the LCK Awards, Faker will have lifted his fifth award of the year, with a total of six if you include the Worlds title.
His accolades extend beyond League of Legends, with recognitions such as ‘Best Esports Athlete’ at The Game Awards and ‘Esports PC Player of the Year’ at the Esports Awards.
The year 2023 stands as a testament to T1’s resilience, Faker’s enduring legacy, and South Korea’s prowess in the ever-evolving world of esports.
The #LCKAwards 2023 Player of the Year goes to…
Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok!!!#LCK pic.twitter.com/rA8hRGJseS
— Ashley Kang (@AshleyKang) December 13, 2023
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T1’s 3-1 victory means that fans in attendance will have a home team to rally behind in the big show next weekend as the LCK second-seed gears up for their final showdown on Sunday, chasing the coveted Summoner’s Cup.
This marks T1’s sixth appearance in the LoL Worlds final, with the illustrious Korean organization striving for its fourth major trophy since its inception over a decade ago, originally as SK Telecom T1.
WELCOME TO THE #WORLDS2023 FINAL, @T1LOL! pic.twitter.com/v526lddmYx
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) November 12, 2023
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, a legend in his own right, played a sublime role in T1’s victory over JDG, showcasing his prowess on the virtual battlefield.
T1’s top laner, Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, expressed his determination on stage, referencing last year’s heartbreaking loss in the Worlds final against DRX.
The team took DRX to five games but fell short of securing victory.
This time, facing their fourth consecutive LPL team, T1 is set to clash with Weibo Gaming in the final after their victory over Bilibili Gaming in the first semi-final.
T1’s monumental run at their home Worlds required them to overcome every LPL seed, and JDG proved to be their toughest challenge yet as the LPL’s top seed.
However, T1 threatened to conclude the series early after a dominant performance in the opener, but JDG fought back, resetting the momentum in an intense battle.
Ryu “Keria” Min-seok’s exceptional performance on Renata in game three, combined with Faker’s incredible Azir plays, turned the tide in T1’s favour.
The home crowd’s support played a crucial role as T1 secured back-to-back game-turning team fights at Dragon, sealing their victory over the LPL top seed and earning them a spot in the final.
The viewership for T1’s triumph reached an impressive 4,308,901, making it the second-highest viewership for a League of Legends professional series in history, according to Esports Charts.
The stage is set for the ultimate League series, and T1’s journey will culminate in a showdown against Weibo Gaming in the Worlds 2023 grand final.
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