T1 Faker is back to individual practice, may return sooner than expected

Olivia Richman Published 17/07/2023

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok had the League of Legends community worried when it was announced he was taking a break due to an arm injury. But it’s now been confirmed that Faker is returning to the LCK.

T1 benched Faker in early July after he reported feeling pain in his right arm and hand. At the time, he went to get evaluated by a doctor, and Yoon “Poby” Sung-won was put into the starting lineup in his place. T1 explained to fans that Faker needed to take a two-week break to find out what was going on. This means Faker would be out until around July 21.

Now, T1 has commented on Faker’s possible return.

When is Faker returning to T1 to compete?

T1 head coach Im “Tom” Jae-Hyeon answered some questions after last week’s match but seemed a little cagey about Faker’s recovery time. He told fans in a press conference that Faker would not be rushed back in but did not rule out some interesting possibilities.

When asked if Faker may return as early as this week, Tom didn’t deny the possibility.

On Sunday, July 16, Tom said: “He did not play solo queue this week. He has been fully focused on his treatment. Next week, he’ll practice individually and check the state of his arm and wrist. If it looks like he will be able to play to some extent, the team will make an announcement.”

Without Faker, T1 is struggling a bit. They have a 1-3 record after losing to DRX, Gen.G, and Dplus, putting them fifth in the LCK Summer Split with an overall 7-5 record. On July 21, T1 will face Hanwha Life Esports. It’s unclear if Faker will be a part of the starting roster by that time.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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