Faker signs long-term contract extension with T1, here’s what to know

Ivan Frigato Published July 27, 2025

Prominent esports organization T1 announced that pro League of Legends player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has re-signed with the organization and will stay on the team’s LoL roster for quite some time to come.

South Korean League of Legends pro Faker made his original esports debut 12 years ago in 2013 with SK Telecom T1. The team has since been renamed T1, but Faker has stayed with it as the mid-laner and star player since his debut. He has helped the team to reach and win many significant titles, becoming one of the most iconic LoL players in the world along the way.

Faker has won 10 LCK titles, 2 MSI titles, and five World Championship titles. The player was also the first League of Legends Hall of Legends inductee and has showcased his incredible talents throughout his career. This is why it’s not surprising that T1 has retained him for so long, even making him a partial owner in the organization in 2020. Faker will now continue to play for T1 for many more years to come, as the player extends his contract with the team well into the future.

How long will Faker play with T1?

In July 2025, it was announced that Faker has extended his contract with T1 for 4 additional years, meaning he’ll remain with the team through at least 2029.

T1 announced Faker’s contract extension in a video that displayed the years 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029, before eventually stating that Faker will remain with the team for a further four years.

The video references Faker’s World Championship titles by showing a shot with the five Championship rings on Faker’s hand. While no longer the singularly dominant force he once was, the legendary player is still considered to be extremely talented even today. The president of esports at Riot Games, John Needham, has even referred to him as the “most iconic and influential figure in League of Legends and esports history.” And most fans share that sentiment.

This is why it isn’t surprising to fans that T1 would continue to keep him on the roster rather than allowing him to even consider other opportunities outside of his long-time home. Some fans are surprised to learn that Faker is 29 right now, which means he’ll be 33 when his contract ends. Older players have traditionally been rare in esports, but as the industry as has matured that have been increasing examples of players extended their careers longer than was once considered possible, and Faker is certainly an example of that. The player even stated publicly that he doesn’t feel like his mechanics have declined with age, and that he wants to work hard to continuously improve.

Many have supported T1’s decision as Faker has maintained his relative performance level and shown that age really is just a number.

Faker recently became the first player to reach 3,500 kills in the Korean regional LoL circuit, and he remains prominent in T1’s active roster as the team’s mid laner. T1 recently reached the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational grand final before losing to Gen.G and made the playoffs for the 2025 Esports World Cup, suggesting that Faker is still quite capable of further adding to his trophy case.