TOKONAME, Japan — South Korea has captured the League of Legends gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with esports icon Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as “Faker,” adding another Asian Games title to his career.
Team Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the gold-medal match, completing an unbeaten run through the tournament and securing South Korea’s second consecutive Asian Games gold in League of Legends.
The victory also delivered a major personal milestone for Faker. The T1 star previously won gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, and his inclusion on the 2026 national team roster put him in position to defend that title.
Faker Adds Another Asian Games Gold
Faker, whose real name is Lee Sang-hyeok, has become one of the most recognizable figures in competitive League of Legends.
South Korea entered the 2026 tournament with a strong record. The team defeated Chinese Taipei, India and Hong Kong in the group stage before sweeping Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the semifinal.
Faker did not play in that semifinal, with Kim Geon-woo “Zeka” stepping into the mid-lane role. The team nevertheless advanced comfortably to the final.
Back-to-Back Gold for Team Korea
The result gives South Korea consecutive League of Legends titles at the Asian Games following its gold-medal performance in Hangzhou in 2023.
League of Legends was introduced as a demonstration event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. South Korea reached the final that year but took silver after losing to China.
The Korean roster for the 2026 Games included Faker alongside Zeus, Canyon, Gumayusi, Keria and Zeka.
For Faker, the victory adds another chapter to an international career that has already made him a defining figure in esports.
A Gold Medal With Wider Significance
South Korea’s Asian Games esports campaign has also attracted attention because of the country’s military-service system. Gold-medal-winning athletes at the Asian Games receive exemptions from mandatory military service under South Korean law, making the result particularly significant for eligible male athletes.
With the League of Legends title secured, Team Korea has now completed its second consecutive Asian Games championship in the discipline.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
