SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - South Korea's esports team T1 won this year's League of Legends (LoL) World Championship in Chengdu, China on Sunday, securing its third consecutive victory and sixth overall.
By defeating its perennial rival KT Rolster 3-2, the team, led by iconic player and captain Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, solidified its dominance in the sport.
Faker, who first won the championship at age of 17 in 2013, continues to be a pivotal figure for the team.
Sponsor SK Telecom's consistent support has been crucial to T1's continuous success, with the company backing the team since its inception. In 2019, SK Telecom began co-managing T1 with American media giant Comcast, leading to significant growth in sponsorships and merchandise sales. In July, T1 renewed Faker's contract for four more years.
In July, T1 also secured a major three-year sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global, alongside partnerships and endorsements with Mercedes-Benz, Red Bull, Samsung Odyssey and Spotify.
Capitalizing on its growing fanbase and popularity, T1 is actively expanding into new business ventures, recently hosting large-scale events and fan meets in Incheon and Busan.
T1 is expected to achieve its first-ever operating profit this year, after a record revenue of 51 billion won last year, up 47 percent from the previous year, with projected growth of over 50 percent this year.
SK Chairman Chey Tae-won praised the team, saying, "Their exceptional skill, teamwork, and perseverance have inspired fans worldwide, demonstrating their ability to overcome challenges."
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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