Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has officially made his return to competitive play in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Summer 2023.
After a nearly month-long break, the decision for his comeback was collectively made by both the T1 mid laner and the team’s coaching staff. This confirmation comes from an official statement by T1’s general manager, Jeong “Becker” Hoi-yoon.
Making a grand entrance in Week 9 of LCK Summer 2023, Faker took to the stage against Kwangdong Freecs on August 2, where T1 claimed victory 2-0. This marked the pro player’s first appearance in the second round of the regular season.
Yoon “Poby” Sung-won, who filled in for Faker during his absence, has made a return to T1 Esports Academy’s player roster, where he once again takes on the role as one of its starting mid laners.
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T1 Faker is back in the LCK Summer 2023 after taking a break to recover from a hand injury
On July 5, T1 made an official announcement regarding Faker’s decision to take a hiatus from competitive play. This break was essential for prioritizing his health due to the discomfort he had been experiencing in his right arm and hand.
During Weeks 5 to 8 of the regular season, Poby filled in for T1 in the LCK matches. Unfortunately, this period saw a string of losses for the team, facing defeats against DRX, OKSavingsBank BRION, Gen.G, and others.
With their star player back in the field, T1 is hoping “to bounce back from (their) current standing”.
Read T1’s official statement below:
Even while recovering from his injury, T1 Faker remained involved with the team by actively participating in the team’s scrims and providing feedback, confirmed by jungler Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun during a press conference, as translated by Korizon Esports.
Despite undergoing thorough medical examinations, including X-rays and MRI scans, the exact nature of T1 Faker’s right-hand injury remains unclear. He engaged in physical therapy and rehabilitation programs as part of his treatment.
It’s important to mention that in 2020, T1 secured an insurance policy for Faker’s right hand as part of their partnership agreement with Hana Bank. This coverage ensures that should any unfortunate incidents affect his hand, he will receive compensation amounting to US$833,600.
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