From living legend of an entire generation of gamers to pop culture idol

“Immortal Demon King”, the great monument of League of Legends

In the world of League of Legends (League of Legends), Faker (real name Lee Sang-hyeok) is simply number 1. To the global gaming community, Faker is a symbol of perseverance, talent and desire to conquer the top for more than a decade. He is likened to the Messi of football or the Djokovic of tennis: people who not only win, but also redefine what greatness is in their sport.

During 12 years of playing at the top level, Faker still stood firmly at the center of the world League of Legends. If individual skills are what get a player noticed, then achievements are what put them in history. And in the glorious golden table of League of Legends, the name Faker has stood almost alone for many years.

Faker owns a collection of titles that any player can only dream of: 6 World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025), 2 MSI titles, 10 LCK championships… and most recently, winning the 2025 KeSPA Cup. His name is associated with many dominant dynasties of SKT T1, not only in Korea but globally. For many generations of mid laners, entering the LCK means an inescapable reality: having to play under the shadow of Faker – and most of them collapse under that weight.

Faker’s influence goes beyond his professional framework. He is a trendsetter, from picking and banning, tactical thinking to shaping professional culture in eSports. Many talented young players see Faker as an ideal role model – not only in terms of skills, but also in terms of playing attitude and discipline.

Accompanying Faker to Vietnam this time is T1 – the legendary historical team of League of Legends, a symbol of steel discipline, competitive spirit and persistent winning spirit for more than a decade. With the 2025 World Finals championship, T1 officially set an unprecedented record: 3 consecutive times reaching the top of the world. In the history of League of Legends, a subject with extremely fast elimination rates and increasingly fierce competition, this is an almost unimaginable achievement. This record is often compared to Real Madrid’s Champions League hat-trick, a benchmark so great that many believe it was never meant to be broken.

The 2025 World Championship trophy also marks the 6th world championship title in T1’s traditional room. While it takes many teams a lifetime to get their hands on a trophy, T1 turns winning into a habit and peaks into familiar territory.

T1’s aura lies not only in trophies. They build an era where core values ​​are inherited, perfected and enhanced each season. At the heart of that era was Faker, but the real strength lay in the team culture, team spirit and ability to reinvent oneself across generations. T1 is not just a strong team – they are a legacy, a standard, a team that every time they appear, history seems to be continued.

Meet Faker, T1 and experience the ultimate eSports right in Vietnam

For many years, the T1 and Faker fan community in Vietnam has always yearned for a seemingly far away moment: to meet their idols directly on their home field. Now, that dream becomes a reality. This is not simply about meeting a player, but an opportunity to get closer to an icon that has been associated with the memories, passion and youth of an entire generation of Vietnamese gamers.

VPBank brought this opportunity to Vietnam in the event “VPBank Presents T1 in Vietnam: The Promise Fulfilled” – a large-scale eSports festival taking place on December 20-21 at the Vietnam Exhibition Center (VEC), Hanoi.

During the two days of the event, fans and gamers will be swept up in the passionate eSports wave. From the vibrant gamezone with a series of interactive activities, minigames and gifts, to the colorful cosplay zone, where eSports and fantasy costumes continuously “take over” social networks. Interspersed are dramatic showmatches, where individual skills, competition tactics and team spirit are pushed to the highest level amid endless cheers from the audience.

Also within the framework of the event, the fan meeting is a “more precious than gold” opportunity for Vietnamese fans to meet idol T1 and “Immortal Demon King” Faker, directly listen to behind-the-scenes stories and interact in a close, emotional atmosphere. In particular, the historic showmatch between All-Star Vietnam and T1 will take place right on the main stage with a giant LED screen of nearly 500 m², helping Vietnamese fans fully experience the feeling of a professional eSports event.

Behind this “big play”, VPBank is not only the organizer but also creates a unique experience for the Gen Z community and Vietnamese gamers. The brand has cleverly combined eSports culture, modern technology and customer experience, to turn the festival into a cultural connection point where Gen Z and Gen Y can meet, interact and share their passions. Just like the past two times accompanying G-DRAGON, bringing T1 to Vietnam once again demonstrates how VPBank understands and accompanies the young generation, turning seemingly distant dreams into memorable memories, bringing unquantifiable emotions and creating lifelong stories in the gaming community.