As an advocate of esports, I’ve lately found myself struggling to maintain interest. Between cultural decline, corporate commercialization, and generally less free time, I’ve had little desire to keep up on gaming news. I haven’t watched competitive League of Legends in years — something that was once a dear tradition!
But the goat himself Lee Sang-hyeok — Faker — always pulls me back in. I passively took notice that SKT T1 was back in the running for the Summoner’s Cup in 2023. Then in 2024 I thought it’d be neat if they won again. But you mean to tell me that the Unkillable Demon King himself is up for the three-peat? Glued to my seat, I weathered round after round of that bracket — hoping to see T1 bring home the tournament. I couldn’t potentially miss the first dynasty of its kind and the longest running undefeated streak in the history of League.
The hype was undeniable. For a moment, I was a younger me, obsessed with a game I’m still horrible at. Invested in internet micro-celebrities that I have no one to talk to about. The solution? Grind solo queue to try and hit Diamond by the end of the year, surely… or maybe I’ll spare myself the disappointment.
