T1 receives presidential congratulations after winning LoL Worlds

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday sent a celebratory message to T1, a Korean gaming team that won its fourth League of Legends World Championship title on Sunday. [YOON SUK YEOL FACEBOOK]

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday sent a celebratory message to T1, a Korean Esports team that won its fourth League of Legends World Championship title on Sunday.

In a Facebook post, Yoon congratulated "T1's fourth LoL World championship title and the first title in seven years."

Mentioning Korea's Asian Games title at the Hangzhou Asiad in September, Yoon said the win reaffirmed "Korea's reputation as the home of Esports."

Yoon also added that T1's players "Lee Sang-hyeok, Choi Woo-je, Moon Hyeon-joon, Lee Min-hyeong and Ryu Min-seok becoming one as a group" brought joy and entertainment to worldwide viewers.

Lee Sang-hyeok, Choi and Ryu were medalists at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where the Korean team won gold. Moon and Lee Min-hyeong were on the substitute player list.

Yoon said, "The government will provide solid and sound support for the Esports sector" so it could become a "global market leader."

The 2023 League of Legends World Championship, the world's biggest Esports event, came to Korea for the first time in five years since 2018, when Korea hosted the championship for the second time.

T1 won the title after defeating the Chinese team Weibo Gaming 3-0 in the final on Sunday at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

T1, with four titles, became the winningest team in the event, along with the team's leader, Lee Sang-hyeok, also becoming the winningest player.

BY HYEON YE-SEUL, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]