In the ever-evolving landscape of competitive gaming, the debate over who holds the title of the “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) is a constant fixture. Every discipline has its legends, but rarely does a name transcend specific games to dominate the conversation across the entire esports world. Lee Sang-hyeok, known universally as Faker, the iconic mid-laner for T1`s League of Legends team, is one such name.
The discussion was recently ignited by Russian streamer Nix (Alexander Levin), who offered a definitive, albeit slightly blunt, take during a recent broadcast. According to Nix, the debate isn`t even a debate. Faker, in his view, stands alone at the pinnacle of esports history.
Nix didn`t mince words, labeling Faker a “genius” and unequivocally stating he is “the best athlete, if you can call him that, the best cyber athlete in esports, for the entire history of esports.” He went on to dismiss the upcoming Esports Awards 2025 nomination for “Player of the Decade” – a list featuring other formidable names from various games – as a mere formality. “You don`t even need to choose,” Nix asserted. “It`s just a formality. It`s purely a formality nomination. There are no competitors there. Faker has no competitors in esports, they don`t exist, they haven`t been born.”
To underscore his point, Nix drew a comparison, pitting Faker against another highly regarded player, Miracle- from Dota 2. His reasoning? Faker`s extraordinary and sustained stability. “Look at his stability,” Nix urged. “And he continues… he continues to dominate the tier-0 scene. He dominated the World Championship [LoL Worlds]… How old is he, 28? How many titles does he have? How many World Championships has he won, four?” (The source mentioned 5, but his latest win in 2023 was his fourth, a record). Nix`s point about his age relative to his enduring dominance remains valid.
Faker`s professional journey in League of Legends began in 2013 (not 2014 as in the source text), marking over a decade at the absolute highest level of competitive play. Over this span, he has amassed an unparalleled collection of achievements. He is a four-time League of Legends World Champion (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023), the only player to win the title three times consecutively (2015-2016 with SKT T1 K/SKT T1). He also holds the distinction of being the first player to achieve 200 wins in international League of Legends tournaments.
The recently announced nominees for the Esports Awards 2025 “Player of the Decade” indeed include a pantheon of stars: Alexander “s1mple” Kostylev (CS2), Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov (Dota 2), Johan “N0tail” Sundstein (Dota 2), among others. While these players boast incredible legacies within their own domains, Faker`s longevity, consistent performance across numerous meta shifts and roster changes, and sheer number of premier titles across a decade are frequently cited as factors setting him apart in the broader esports context. It`s almost as if the award ceremony, while celebrating many greats, has one category where the outcome feels less like a competition and more like a formal recognition of a widely accepted truth.
Beyond the “Player of the Decade,” Faker is also nominated for “Esports Person of the Decade,” competing against figures from streaming, hosting, and commentary. This further highlights his massive impact that extends beyond just in-game performance, cementing his status as a true icon of the industry.
Nix`s comments, while perhaps lacking diplomatic nuance, resonate with a sentiment shared by many fans and analysts: Faker`s career trajectory, marked by sustained excellence and numerous world championships over a decade, presents a compelling case for him being the single most dominant and enduring figure esports has ever seen. Whether or not an award is needed to confirm it, the debate often starts and ends with the name Faker.
Finley Holt