League of Legends Faker [Lee 'Faker' Sang-hyeok: won more LoL World Championships] becomes first esports athlete to appear on Korean postage stamps : pcgaming

[–] MirrorGiraffe@piefed.social 48 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Say what you will about lol or esports but this guy is the goat for a reason. His achievements are insane. He has a 60% win rate at the world Championship, spanning over a 13-year career.

He started as a genius kid with insane outplays and as he got older and his mechanics fell from number one to top 10 his leadership skills and strategic mind has allowed him to enable his teammates and continue to dominate the world stage.

While his team t1 rarely wins Korea these days they still crush their peers internationally thanks to the insane pressure he creates and the experience he brings to the table.

It's not unfair to compare him to Messi (sorry baus) for being so dominant over so long time, but at least faker isn't a sellout. Maybe Gretzky or Serena Williams makes more sense.

Anyhow, complete legend

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Is "Faker" their handle or do they not actually play LoL? 🤔

[–] tuckerm@feddit.online 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Haha, yeah the title originally made me think that he was known for cheating, and then was being celebrated on a postage stamp anyway for some reason. But I'm guessing most people who follow the game competitively would know the name Faker.

[–] hoshikarakitaridia@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Don't follow the game competitively really, but I still know that name, so yeah.

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 1 points 2 weeks ago

They should honor PoE 2 Faker, Elon Musk, as well.

[+] GuyIncognito@lemmy.ca -15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

deeply unserious world

[–] DdCno1@beehaw.org 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I would put him in the same category as a chess grand master. It's obviously a mental skill.

Not to mention, this is hardly out of the ordinary for South Korea. Esports are a major thing there and have been since the 1990s, filling arenas and attracting many millions of regular viewers.

[–] GuyIncognito@lemmy.ca -3 points 2 weeks ago

maybe if we were talking about starcraft, but this is league of legends. deeply unserious

[+] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com -20 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

"Athlete."

Edit: It's insane how butt-hurt so many of you are about not being athletes because you slap keys.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

eAthlete would probably fit better.

Since Athlete means

One who participates in physical exercise or sports, especially in competitive events.

One possessing the requisite strength, agility, and endurance for success in sports.

[–] tuckerm@feddit.online 11 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Just saying "esports competitor" (and then "competitor" thereafter) always sounded like a completely reasonable description to me. Not calling them an athlete, while also not belittling their skill or accomplishments.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Just saying “esports competitor” (and then “competitor” thereafter) always sounded like a completely reasonable description to me. Not calling them an athlete,

If it's a sport, he's an athlete. If it's competitive video gaming, he's a video game competitor.

[–] CrypticCoffee@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

It ain't a sport though. Competitor is more accurate. They don't call chess players athletes.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca -1 points 2 weeks ago

Video game, grow up, that's not an accomplishment.

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago

Agreed.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

An athlete is a person trained or skilled in physical exercises, sports, or games, particularly one who competes in organized, structured events.

Professional Chess players are athletes.

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 weeks ago

They absolutely are not.

[–] FishFace@piefed.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

No they bloody aren't though

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Physical exercises, physical sports, or physical games.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I physically have to move the pieces, or press buttons on my PC/game console to play. I cannot use telekinesis.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

If you could you could be a Psythlete

[–] RedSeries@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

"Opinion."

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Literal definition.

[–] RedSeries@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago

I was unaware there was apparently no physical reaction time, endurance, or skill to being one of the greatest LoL players of all time.

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Its a sport

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

They are games at a gaming event.

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Its sport there are two teams competing.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Its sport there are two teams competing.

Not every competition is a sport. That's why there are two distinct terms – competition and sport.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

from the greek "athlon" - prize -> athlein - wanting a prize -> athlētēs- one who competes for a prize -> athleta - Latin version -> modern English (note similarity between athlētēs and athletes)

Although the physical side is culturally connotated, there's nothing in the strict definition that requires "someone who competes for a prize" to be a physical, e.g. chess, math, science, economics...competitor

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

I'm a high performance athlete.

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