6 years ago, on May 11, 2019, fans of video games in Hanoi, especially the League of Legends (Lien Minh Huyen Thoai) witnessed for the first time star Faker (real name Lee Sang-hyeok) interacting with Vietnamese fans.
MSI 2019 is the first large-scale international e-sports event held in Vietnam with the first leg in Ho Chi Minh City (qualization round) and the second leg in Hanoi (group round and knockout round). On the second day of competition in Hanoi, Faker had an interaction with fans at the National Convention Center after the victory over Phong Vu Buffaloes.
When asked if he will return to Vietnam in the future or not? Faker insists he will definitely do it. This statement of the Korean superstar was chosen to open the VPBank Presents T1 Vietnam event series.
6 years still maintaining the legendary position
At the time of Faker competing in MSI 2019 in Hanoi, he was only 23 years old at the time and the T1 team still kept the old name, SKT T1. Faker has won 3 world championships before participating in MSI 2019, but the last time he lifted the title was 3 years ago.
The period from 2018 to 2021 was a forgettable period in Faker's career when he often did not participate in the finals of the world championship, and his position as the number 1 star was shaken at many times. There was a time when the great pressure from the Korean media and the fan community pushed him to the limit of retirement, something an idol player would often do at the age of 25-27.
However, after SKT T1 changed its name to T1 (still owned by SK Telecom Group), Faker and his new teammates of the 4th generation have reached the world finals 4 more times (from 2022 to 2025) and have won the championship series 3 consecutive times since 2023.
6 years to fulfill my promise to Vietnamese fans
The 6 world championships are an affirmation of Faker's absolute No. 1 position in the global excelship industry, in the most popular sport, League of Legends. If Faker chooses to retire during the period of decline from 2018 - 2021, perhaps the promise of "must definitely return to Vietnam" will never come true again as a player.
When SKT T1 Faker spoke to thousands of fans in Hanoi in 2019, it was not just a simple promise to reunite. Faker understands that if he cannot maintain his position and is no longer the number 1 star he was in the past on stage, everything will pass quickly. No one will remember that saying and perhaps Faker himself will not be confident enough to return if he does not bring success.
Now, when he is at his peak and gradually reaching the end of his career, Faker returning to Vietnam no longer has to carry the T1 championship to another championship, that is the enjoyment and sharing of his emotions with Vietnamese fans.
December 21, 2025 will be a very memorable milestone for T1 fans in particular and League of Legends in general in Vietnam. The greatest excelsports team with the world's number 1 superstar will appear at the VPBank Presents T1 Vietnam event. Maybe in the future, Faker will continue to come to Vietnam, but to stand as a superstar as he is now, that is almost impossible.
