Korea takes League of Legends gold despite Faker absence

Esports

Published: 29 Sep. 2023, 21:46 Updated: 29 Sep. 2023, 22:06

Korea takes League of Legends gold despite Faker absence

Korea defeats Chinese Taipei 2-0 in the final League of Legends round to win gold at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Friday. [YONHAP]

Korea took gold in League of Legends on Friday, defeating Chinese Taipei 2-0 to win the final round of the 19th Asian Games, the first year to include Esports as an official medal event.

The Korean gamers’ victory came even as star player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok — who serves in a quarterback role as mid laner — has been absent for much of the tournament, battling flu symptoms.

Korea cruise past China to reach League of Legends final

The other members of Korea’s all-star team are Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok, Park “Ruler” Jae-hyeok, Ryu “Keria” Min-seok and Jung “Chovy” Ji-hun. Lee, Choi and Ryu are members of top Esports team T1.

Korea earlier defeated China 2-0 in the semifinal and Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the quarterfinal without Faker. Coach Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun slotted in Jung, also a mid laner, to take his place.

In League of Legends — LoL — which is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports with around 150 million monthly players, two teams of five battle it out to defend their half of the game map.

Their gold-medal finish exempts the six-man team from mandatory military service, which is required for Korean men between age 18 and 35.

Korean pro gamer Kim Gwan-woo earlier won the national team its first-ever Esports gold, defeating Chinese Taipei in the final round of Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.

Korea had won three total medals in Esports at this year’s Games — two gold and one bronze, by pro gamer Kwak Jun-hyuk in EA Sports FC Online — by Friday, with three days of the Esports competition to go.

BY MARY YANG AND PAIK JI-HWAN [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]