Latest news with #Faker
Korea Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
T1 to host weekend of gaming, entertainment at Inspire Arena in July
'2025 LCK Road Show T1 Homeground' to take place July 25-27 South Korean esports powerhouse T1, home to global icon Lee Sang-hyuk (Faker), is set to bring fans a weekend of gaming and entertainment with the "2025 LCK Road Show T1 Homeground" this July. Presented by T1 Entertainment & Sports, the operator of the esports team, the three-day festival will take place July 25-27 at Inspire Arena in Incheon, offering fans access to live matches, fan activations and live performances. The event kicks off July 25 with T1's League of Legends Championship Korea matches, followed by matches from the LCK Challengers League, or Korea's secondary League of Legends competition, on July 27. Valorant fans can look forward to T1's VCT Pacific matches, which will take place on June 26 at the same venue. Beyond the competitive action, the festival promises an immersive fan experience inside the gaming arena, featuring coordinated stunts with cards, light sticks and chants, alongside cheerleading events and multiple live musical performances. Activities will extend beyond the arena, taking place across the entire Inspire Resort throughout the duration of "2025 LCK Road Show T1 Homeground." 'T1 Homeground (event) is more than a simple event, and a long-term project to share T1's brand value and content with fans, and something that connects to the vision of the establishment of T1 esports complex,' said T1 Chief Operating Officer Ahn Woong-ki in a press release. 'With the event taking place at Incheon's Inspire Arena as a starting point, we will set a new standard for domestic and international T1 fans.' Tickets will be soon be available via Interpark, with early access granted to T1 membership holders, whose pre-sale allotment has been significantly expanded, according to T1 Entertainment & Sports.
Korea Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Presidential candidate stirs controversy for using Faker's signature pose, catchphrase
Faker's team protests unapproved use of gamer's public image; Kim Moon-soo takes photo down Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok's team T1 said Tuesday that the League of Legends player does not have any connection to a political party, stance or campaign, thought to be in relation to conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo posting a photo of himself with a pose and catchphrase associated with the gamer. "We've recently found that Faker's image and phrase representing him have been used on content related to politics. ... It is our wish that the image or the said phrase will not be interpreted politically or cause any misunderstanding," T1 said in a post on its official X account. The team also vowed to take measures to ensure that the photo is taken down, although it did not specify which political content it was referring to. Kim, who recently won the People Power Party presidential primary, posted on Facebook a picture of himself doing the "Shh" pose that is widely associated with Faker. Kim also posted the comment, "I'll take care of it. It's gonna be over" — a well-known order Faker gave his teammates during a crucial moment in a match — while using the hashtag "Faker." Kim has since removed the image from his account. Faker is widely considered one of the greatest esports gamers of all time and was announced to be the inaugural inductee for LoL Esports Hall of Legends by the game's developer, Riot Games, in May 2024.
Tatler Asia
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Surprising moneymakers: From polo to pro gaming, the niche sports with the highest-paid athletes
2. Esports Above Esports (Photo: RDNE Stock project via Pexels) Biggest prize money: The International 2019 (Dota 2) hit US$34.3 million total purse; winners bagged over US$15 million Why it pays: Streaming deals, brand sponsorships, and ownership stakes can eclipse even massive prize checks Esports has evolved into a billion-dollar industry—and one of the most lucrative for top players. Tournaments like The International and League of Legends Worlds offer staggering payouts, but real wealth comes from Twitch streams, YouTube content, and brand endorsements. Stars like Faker and N0tail have built empires, proving gaming is serious business. 3. Sailing (America's Cup) Above Sailing (Photo: Mike Knibbs via Pexels) Biggest prize money: Around US$1 million championship purse in SailGP, a spin-off from America's Cup Why it pays: Salaried contracts, luxury sponsorships, and billionaire-backed teams At the elite level, sailing is less about prize purses and more about patronage. Champions like Jimmy Spithill are backed by syndicates funded by billionaires and global brands. While SailGP sweetens the deal with actual prize money, the America's Cup remains a career-defining event, opening doors to long-term endorsements and prestige. 4. Professional bass fishing Above Bass fishing (Photo: cottonbro studio via Pexels) Biggest prize money: The Major League Fishing's Redcrest Championship offers US$300,000 for the winner Why it pays: Gear sponsorships, branded merchandise, personal licensing deals In the US, bass fishing is big business. Icons like Kevin VanDam earn more from sponsorships—boats, bait, branded gear—than tournament wins. Many launch their own product lines and outdoor TV shows, combining niche fame with national influence. Think Nascar, but on the water. 5. Show jumping Above Show jumping (Photo: Kelian Pfleger via Pexels) Biggest prize money: Grand Prix events award up to €300,000 (US$320,000) Why it pays: Horse ownership, sponsorships, and the elite equestrian circuit Show jumping rewards both athleticism and animal investment. Top riders like Scott Brash don't just win events—they breed and sell champion horses for millions. With brands like Rolex, Longines and Land Rover in the mix, the sport maintains its gilded image, blending business and equestrian elegance. 6. Snooker Above Snooker (Photo: Tomaz Barcellos via Pexels) Biggest prize money: World Snooker Championship: £500,000 (US $630,000) to the winner. Why it pays: Endorsements, exhibition matches, media appearances. Massive in the UK and China, snooker's top players—Ronnie O'Sullivan among them—enjoy strong fan bases and steady income beyond tournaments. High appearance fees and celebrity TV spots sustain their earning power, turning quiet concentration into commercial success. 7. Table tennis Above Table tennis (Photo: Jenny K via Pexels) Biggest prize money: ITTF World Cup: around US$150,000 for the winner. Why it pays: Corporate sponsorships, government rewards, luxury endorsements. In China, table tennis players are national celebrities. Stars like Ma Long attract state-backed bonuses, luxury endorsements and even lifetime pensions. While global prize pools are modest, they often pale in comparison to national hero treatment and long-term benefits. Also read: Roger Federer ranked by Forbes as World's Highest Paid Athlete of 2020 8. Surfing Above Surfing (Photo: Pixabay via Pexels) Biggest prize money: The World Surf League Championship Tour awards US$100,000 to US$150,000 per win Why it pays: Endorsements from global brands and personal surfwear lines Championships matter, but brand image is everything in surfing. Athletes like Gabriel Medina and Carissa Moore leverage their appeal for endorsement deals with brands like Rip Curl and Jeep. Their sun-soaked, aspirational lifestyles are bankable across both sport and social media. 9. MotoGP Above MotoGP (Photo: Pixabay via Pexels) Biggest prize money: Relatively small per race; top salaries reach US$14 million/year Why it pays: Salary contracts, endorsements, performance bonuses Unlike Formula 1, MotoGP riders earn most through their contracts. Marc Márquez, for example, has one of the highest-paying deals in motorsport. Add to that endorsements from energy drinks, apparel and tech brands and the financial speedometer keeps climbing.
Korea Herald
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Soop teams up with LoL legend Faker for ad campaign
Soop has partnered with esports organization T1 to launch a brand advertising campaign featuring League of Legends world champion Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, the Korean streaming platform announced Wednesday. Soop, formerly AfreecaTV, has been strengthening its platform competitiveness by launching global services and exploring new business areas such as artificial intelligence. T1 players have for years showcased their gameplay and communicated with viewers by livestreaming on Soop. In particular, Faker made a name for himself on Soop behind his streaming nickname "Gojeonpa" before making his professional debut. 'T1 players, among many (League of Legends Championship Korea) players, are partners who have created content together while navigating both professional player and streamer domains,' said Soop. 'Their approach of producing diverse content and consistently communicating with users aligns perfectly with Soop's platform direction.' Soop uploaded a 12-second teaser video ahead of the full-scale advertisement campaign, featuring only Faker and the date of May 16. Before the main promotional video drops, Soop plans to release behind-the-scenes footage from the advertisement filming process on May 7.
