Faker’s T1 Empire: Full Timeline From SKT to the 2025 League of Legends Worlds Three-Peat

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s career is the defining story of competitive League of Legends.
For over a decade, his journey—from prodigy to dynasty leader to generational icon—has shaped the sport’s competitive identity and inspired every new era of talent that followed.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Faker’s rise from rookie to “Unkillable Demon King”
• SKT/T1’s first dynasty and its downfall
• The failed super-team experiment
• How the academy era rebuilt the T1 empire
• The formation of the ZFGK roster
• The redemption arcs of 2022–2024
• The historic 2025 three-peat and sixth Worlds title
• What Faker’s legacy means for the future of T1 and LoL

Before the rebuilds, the slumps, and the triumphant returns, there was the myth. Faker’s story began in 2013 with a debut that sent shockwaves through the scene—an iconic outplay that announced the arrival of a new king. That same year, he and his SKT teammates lifted their first World Championship trophy. After a brief stumble, they returned in 2015 with one of the most dominant tournament runs ever witnessed, cementing Faker’s status as the “Unkillable Demon King.” By 2016, he wasn’t just a top player; he was the benchmark, the final boss of League of Legends.

Faker’s First Dynasty: SKT’s Rise and Fall (2013–2017)

In 2016, the team then known as SKT made history, becoming the first to win back-to-back World Championships. With legendary players and Faker at the helm, their reign seemed unshakable, continuing with an MSI victory in 2017. SKT was on top of the world, an empire that appeared destined to last forever.

But all empires fall. The 2017 World Championship finals saw a crushing 3-0 defeat to Samsung Galaxy, signaling the end of an era. The aftershocks were felt for years. In the summer of 2018, the unthinkable happened: the organization benched its star player. For the first time in 886 days, Faker was not on the Rift. That season marked a historic low, finishing seventh in the domestic league. Their last hope was extinguished in the regional qualifiers, denying them a chance at the 2018 World Championship.

The 2019 T1 Super Team Experiment — And Why It Failed

To rise, one must first fall. In the wake of the disastrous 2018 season, T1 went all-in on a rebuild, assembling a “super team” of the best talent available, including historic names like Khan and Mata. Initially, the team looked formidable, dominating the domestic scene in 2019. But on the international stage, where it truly mattered, they crumbled, outmaneuvered by Europe’s G2 Esports at both MSI and Worlds. Despite the star-studded lineup, the dynasty remained broken.

Why T1’s 2019 Super Team Failed

• Overreliance on imported veteran synergy
• Predictable mid-game patterns under pressure
• G2’s superior macro and draft flexibility
• Internal identity conflict versus T1’s historic development style
• Lack of long-term cohesion

How T1 Rebuilt Through the Academy: The Birth of the ZFGK Roster

In 2020, the organization rebranded to simply T1, a change that signified a deeper restructuring. Yet, instability returned, culminating in another failed Worlds qualification. It was then that T1 pivoted away from the “super team” model and back to its roots: its renowned academy system. T1’s academy system—widely regarded as the most successful talent pipeline in League of Legends—had already produced multiple future stars. In a move rarely seen in modern esports, they decided to build, not buy. They introduced Gumayusi, a rookie marksman who had been a trainee for three years. His proactive style, though not enough to save the season, provided a blueprint for the future.

This new philosophy crystalized in 2021. T1 signed Keria, a support player already seen as a revolutionary. He wasn’t just innovative; he was redefining the role, winning an LCK MVP award with non-meta picks and expanding the champion pool in ways previously unimaginable. He was the ideal partner for Gumayusi. They were soon joined by Oner, an aggressive jungler from the academy. Promoting three rookies to the main roster at once was a massive gamble, but it was a testament to T1’s faith in its developmental pipeline.

This patchwork roster made an unexpected run to the semifinals at Worlds 2021, falling in what was arguably the closest professional Best-of-5 of the entire season. They had found their formula. The final piece was another academy prodigy: Zeus. Hailed for his mechanics and considered the future of Korean top lane, he completed the five-man roster: Zeus, Oner, Faker, Gumayusi, and Keria.

T1’s Near-Miss Era: Worlds 2021–2022 and the Dynasty Without a Crown

With the roster complete, everything clicked. T1 embarked on the most dominant run in LCK history, finishing the 2022 Spring Split with a perfect 18-0 record—the first perfect split in the league’s history. But international victory remained painfully out of reach. They suffered a string of narrow 3-2 losses in major finals, including a heart-wrenching defeat to DRX at the 2022 World Championship. This record-breaking roster risked becoming a dynasty without a crown.

The pressure mounted in 2023. A wrist injury forced Faker to sit out, and the team looked lost. They returned to form but fell once again to rivals Gen.G in the domestic finals. Heading into the 2023 World Championship on home soil, doubts surrounded them.

Faker’s 2023 Redemption Arc and the Return to the Throne

T1 proved that they should never be counted out. During the World Championship, they completely shifted gears. They didn’t just play the meta; they became the meta. By prioritizing champions like Rakan and reintroducing carry top laners like Jayce, they created a style built on bot lane control and roaming mids that forced opponents to adapt or be dismantled. Their playoff run was a statement, culminating in a stunning victory over JDG, a team on the verge of a historic “grand slam.”

T1’s Key Meta Innovations (2023–2025)

• Rakan priority and bot-lane engage revival
• Reintroduction of Jayce as a carry top laner
• Roaming mid compositions to unlock side-lane pressure
• Bot-lane-first macro with jungler pathing adaptations
• Flex-pick strategies tailored to Fearless Draft rules

In the Grand Final, in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans, T1 played with the mentality of champions. The seven-year drought was finally over. Faker and T1 were world champions once again. The victory was a culmination for a new generation that had grown up idolizing the man they now stood beside as champions.

The Intangible King: How Faker Led a New Generation

Beyond the mechanics and results, Faker’s greatest contribution to this new dynasty was intangible. For his young teammates, he was a stabilizing presence, a bastion of mental resilience who had seen it all. His leadership was not one of loud commands, but of quiet consistency and an unshakeable belief in his team’s potential. The rookies often spoke of how his calm demeanor during high-pressure moments allowed them to play freely and without fear. He was no longer just their team’s carry; he was its anchor. This was not the end. The five-man roster ran it back in 2024. They faced challenges but peaked at Worlds, battling their way to a third consecutive Grand Final. In a brutal series, Faker delivered a masterful performance to secure back-to-back titles. The victory cemented the ZFGK roster as one of the greatest dynasties the game has ever seen.

T1’s 2025 Three-Peat and Faker’s Sixth Worlds Title

T1’s 2025 Three-Peat in One Glance

• New top laner: Doran replaces Zeus
• MSI: T1 lose 3–2 to Gen.G
• EWC: T1 win the international title
• Worlds: KT rivalry final, T1 win 3–2
• Faker: 6th Worlds title, era-defining legacy
• T1: first team in LoL history to win Worlds three years in a row

All dynasties eventually face change. The legendary ZFGK era came to a close in the offseason when Zeus departed, and T1 brought in veteran top laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon for the 2025 season. The competitive landscape had also shifted, with Riot Games introducing a new three-split calendar and the “Fearless Draft” format for international events.

T1’s new lineup was tested early. After falling to their rivals Gen.G in a close 3-2 series in the finals of the Mid-Season Invitational, questions lingered. However, the tournament was also a stage for Faker to break another record, securing his 200th international win. The team found its footing and later won the Esports World Cup, proving the retooled roster could still claim international hardware.

Their ultimate test came at the 2025 World Championship in China. T1 stormed into their fourth consecutive Worlds final, where they faced their classic “Telecom War” rivals, KT Rolster, in a historic showdown. In a dramatic series that went the distance, T1 battled back from a 1-2 deficit to win the final game, securing a 3-2 victory. The win marked their sixth World Championship, and they became the first team in history to complete a three-peat (2023, 2024, 2025). Faker earned his sixth personal world title, while Gumayusi was named the Finals MVP for his clutch performance.

This victory proved that Faker’s late-career dynasty was not dependent on one roster. He had won a third straight title with a new top-side identity and under a completely new draft system.

The end of the 2025 season brought more change. Gumayusi announced his departure, closing the book on one of the most iconic bot lanes in the game’s history. Yet, as one chapter ended, another was promised. Faker signed a contract extension through 2029, a clear signal of his intent to continue competing and leading the next generation of T1.

Faker’s journey has transformed him into not only the game’s greatest player, but also its first generational icon—the constant in a sport defined by change, forever rebuilding the kingdom he once conquered.