Faker becomes first inductee to Riot's Hall of Legends
Many professional competitions and sports have halls of fame to honor the true pioneers and the elite talents that have existed within their field. It’s a universally recognized way for people to receive their true props for what they’ve done to elevate themselves in their chosen field.
So, the emergence of an esports hall of fame is another exciting chapter in the sport’s early stages. We appreciate that esports have been around for nearly two decades now and are well established within the realms of entertainment. However, in comparison to other professional competitions and sports, the sector is still in its infancy.
Markets that help drive interest in video gaming
Multibillion-dollar sectors don’t just emerge overnight; they are often the culmination of many key factors brewing over a decade or two. While esports have been growing at an impressive rate since the beginning of the 2010s, they have also been helped by the positive ripples of other key marketplaces.
Given that these tournaments are broadcast worldwide and have partnerships with some of the top streaming platforms, the emergence of betting markets has helped generate further interest – especially when the top teams in the world face off against each other. The most common features of these markets mirror other team sports; you can bet on individuals to win their games, on an overall team victory, or which team will come out on top at the end of the season.
Riot Games has played a seminal role in the growth of these markets, helping to introduce structure and significant prize pools for a host of the most popular video games, such as League of Legends and Valorant. Understanding the mechanics of games like Valorant has helped to attract people and make them appreciate just how much skill it takes to win these revered tournaments.
Riot Games – a prominent name in esports
Many believe that Riot Games is the catalyst that helps to bring legitimacy to the broader market. While millions of us enjoy playing video games, those who grew up during an era in which online gaming and esports didn’t exist certainly did not envisage how significant the market could become.
Video gaming was once seen as a hobby or pastime, and while that is still the case for many, esports have helped to turn it into a legitimate career path for those who have proved their talents on a global stage.
Riot Games had a vision that was far bigger than any of their competition; they’ve taken their tournaments all over the world, including a 2017 League of Legends tournament that took place in a 90,000-capacity stadium and drew in over 50 million viewers online.
Unsurprisingly, celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and brands like Gillette have invested in Riot Games, but the sector has also come to the attention of some of the world's biggest rappers and investment companies. As they continue to drive forward with their ambitious gaming plans, Riot’s hall of fame idea is another angle that shows how committed they are to furthering esports.
Is Faker a worthy first name in the hall of fame?
The short answer to our little rhyming question is yes, and the slightly longer answer is absolutely. Faker is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best-ever League of Legends player, and it’s not even close. You only need to take a brief glimpse at his track record in major tournaments, and how much admiration he gets from the wider esports community and his peers.
His rather ominous nickname, Unkillable Demon King, suggests a merciless, stony-faced character, but he is well known for his personable demeanor and philanthropy outside of esports. It’d be quicker to name the tournaments he hasn’t won, but some of his career highlights include:
- Four World Championships – his most recent being in 2023.
- Ten domestic titles in Korea.
- Gold medalist at the Asia Games 2022.
- Worlds MVP 2016.
As you can see, he was a no-brainer as an inaugural inductee. Faker was voted for by fellow players, peers and those with credible reputations within the video gaming world. He was unanimously considered the top pick and now finds his name etched into the Riot Hall of Legends as the first of many inductees, and with such impressive accolades, it’s obvious why.
Other names that could follow Faker to the Hall of Legends
You’d anticipate several names to closely follow Faker – Diamondprox, Misaya and Flame will almost certainly find themselves in the Hall of Legends. While they might not have been honored with the first callup, expect to see all of these names inducted at some point over the next few years. Diamondprox will likely be the first European player to be inducted into the Hall of Legends.
If we follow the criteria that resulted in Faker’s induction, individual and team contributions are essential, as are team performance and longevity at the highest level of esports. So, again, you’d expect to see all of these names immortalized in the Hall of Legends at some stage.
Final thoughts
It’ll be intriguing to see how the concept of the Hall of Legends plays out. Many of Riot Games' previous ideas have influenced a raft of innovative changes within professional video gaming.
Given that Faker is the first big name to have his name etched into the folklore of esports history, a growing number of gamers who have emerged over the last few years will be keen to follow in his footsteps and be inducted as well.
You’d imagine this will be rolled out into other games and genres, and it might also be an idea that another company explores. However, given Riot’s standing in esports and the pioneering ways in which they continue to encourage people to explore the world of professional video gaming, it’s more than likely that their version of the Hall of Legends will carry the most weight.
If it becomes the most valued of its kind in professional video gaming, then Faker will be a name that becomes synonymous with professional video gaming, even decades from now.
