Human beings understand the world through stories. Myths and legends that shape our perception and shape our ideas. Last Saturday, November 2, the South Korean Faker wrote a new chapter in his personal legend and reaffirmed himself as the best electronic sports player, not in the world, but in history.
The grand final of the world cup League of Legends It took place at the O2 Arena in London. The pavilion, the second largest in the United Kingdom, rises under a huge fabric dome supported by impossible pillars and cranes. It is a monument to consumption and spectacle through which artists of the stature of Ariana Grande and Madonna have paraded. Also in that stadium, Michael Jackson planned to do 50 concerts under the name This Is It.
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T1 and Bilibili Gaming on the roof of the O2 Arena in London
To Riot Games, the Californian company responsible for League of Legendsit was not difficult for him to sell the 20,000 tickets for the final in a few hours. On Saturday, November 2, the O2 Arena opened its doors with a sold out and the promise of offering a spectacle never seen before in the world of esports. And the reality far exceeded expectations.
Bilibili vs. T1
clash of the titans
Their last challenge rose like a colossus at the gates of Rhodes: they had to beat T1, the best team in the history of League of Legends
Finals are always exciting, but good storytelling can take everything to the next level. The Chinese team Bilibili gaming arrived in London with two objectives: to remove the Summoner’s Cup to the current champions and become the first team without a Korean presence to win a Worlds after 12 years. On the other hand, T1 was playing in its third consecutive final and had to claim its position as the best team in history. They were the favorites and had to show that they deserved it.
A very close final
Image of the 2024 Worlds final at the O2 Arena in London
Very few people were betting on a victory for Bilibili Gaming. The Chinese team reached the final after playing a great role throughout the World Cup, but their last challenge rose like a colossus at the gates of Rhodes. They had to beat T1, the best team in the history of League of Legends.
Bilibili had everything against them, but they were the first to prevail. They quickly controlled the first map and forced the Koreans in T1 to get their act together. It didn’t take long to make it 1-1: T1 equalized the score and it seemed that the tables were turning in their favor. Before the final, many expected to see a 3-0 or 3-1, so the predictions seemed to come true. But Bilibili Gaming once again advanced on the scoreboard.
The South Korean team lifts the Summoner’s Cup, this is its fifth victory in a League of Legends World Cup final
The Chinese formation had the Summoner’s Cup at your fingertips. T1 limited Bilibili’s hopes in a very tense fourth map and they reached 2-2. Almost no one in the stadium expected to see five maps, something unusual in a World Cup final. The last game was the slowest due to the fear of losing. The first direct confrontations did not come until after 20 minutes, when Faker put the team on his back and sealed the final with one of the best plays in history.
T1 took the Summoner’s Cup back to Korea and reaffirmed themselves as the best team in the world.
Faker, the Messi of esports
Image of Faker at the Worlds 2024
Lee Sang-hyeok, known as Faker in the world of esportshas been competing at the highest level for 12 years and his performance and performances continue to surprise. In 2013 he joined the SK Telecom T1 team (now just T1) and, since then, he has defended his jersey in seven World Cup finals, of which he has won five.
Last Saturday, Faker once again claimed himself as the best player in history, but not only in League of Legendsbut of electronic sports in general. He started the grand final calmly, although when the time came he charged with his team and led them to victory. A feat that also earned him another medal as MVP.
The ‘League of Legends’ community calls Faker the Demon King
The O2 Arena during the 2024 Worlds
For many followers of League of LegendsFaker is little less than the Messi of the esports. This Seoul native, only 28 years old, is a genius capable of the impossible and continues to improve himself. During his broadcast of the grand final, Ibai Llanos ended up shouting that Faker was “Jesus Christ dressed as a football player.” League of Legendss” while the MVP led his team to victory with one of the best plays in history.
The figure of Faker goes beyond the esports and of League of Legends. In South Korea he is considered almost a national hero. His stats may be impressive, but seeing him in action in a stadium of 20,000 people is incredible. The stands raised chanting his name and that of T1, the lack of breath and the applause when the commentators mentioned Faker. Not for nothing the community of League of Legends He calls him the Demon King.
The Worlds as a spectacle
The day before the final, Friday, November 1, I was able to interview the head of the division of esports of League of LegendsChris Greeley. We spent a while chatting at a table on one of the upper floors of the O2 Arena. I asked Chris why they didn’t take the Worlds to bigger stadiums. If they had gotten a sold out with 20,000 tickets, stadiums with double the capacity could easily be proposed.
Chris’s response was simple and direct: “we could do it, but smaller stadiums allow us total control and we can offer the best experience.” Watching an esports game is not like following a soccer game. Everything is full of screens, sets of lights and lasers, so being able to control the environment is key to offering a good show. And that is the key word: spectacle.
The O2 Arena during the 2024 Worlds
The grand finale began with an opening ceremony worthy of a Super Bowl. The American singer Ashnikko began by singing one of the new songs from the series’ soundtrack Arcane accompanied by dozens of dancers in a perfect choreography. Then, Mars Atlas de Forts and Tiffany Aris continued to warm up the atmosphere while awaiting the main course: Linkin Park and their “Heavy is the Crown”, the anthem of the finals. Chris Greeley was right: the 20,000 glow bracelets, stage flamethrowers, lasers and screens don’t shine the same in a stadium open to daylight.
With the closing of the 2024 season, Riot Games is already preparing for next year with new competitions around the world. And also with a new event for the world championships, which in 2025 will be held in the Chinese city of Chengdu.
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