Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok just hit the big 3-0, and the esports world is reacting with the kind of chill, low-key energy usually reserved for a royal coronation. From New York City to Ho Chi Minh City, fans are making sure you can’t look at a skyline without seeing the GOAT’s face.
Broadway’s Newest Star
If you happened to be strolling through Times Square on May 7, you probably saw Faker staring back at you. A massive billboard at 1560 Broadway, right above the Pelé store, is running a highlight reel of his most iconic plays. We’re talking 88 showings throughout the day, four times every hour.
It’s a 30-second reminder to every tourist in Manhattan that while they’re struggling to navigate a subway map, Faker is busy winning his sixth World Championship.
The Global Birthday Tour
The celebrations aren’t just a New York thing. The “Faker, My Era” project and various fan communities have turned this into a worldwide event.
- China: A massive display at Liyang Xixi Mall in Chongqing carries the heavy but accurate message: “Form is temporary, Faker is forever.”
- South Korea: The hometown hero is plastered across Seoul, including a major billboard at the Segwang Building and various tributes near the T1 Base Camp
- Vietnam: Starting May 10, the festivities hit Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City with dedicated fan-organized billboards
Three Decades of Dominance
Most pro gamers are considered “old” by 24. Faker hitting 30 while still being the focal point of the most successful team in history is essentially a statistical anomaly. After a legendary resurgence from 2023 to 2025, he’s proven that his hands haven’t slowed down a bit.
With a contract that keeps him at T1 until at least 2029, we might be looking at billboards for his 33rd birthday, too.
For those stuck at home, you can actually watch the New York billboard via a live street cam. The quality is a bit shaky, but seeing a mid-laner immortalized next to Broadway theaters is definitely worth it for anyone that’s been following the GOAT’s career.
Happy 30th to the Unkillable Demon King. And here’s to many more years at the top, even if some don’t wanna see it. Time to pull a Lebron.