The world of professional League of Legends experienced a unique event during the Worlds 2023: Lee “Faker” Sang-Hyeok, the most iconic player in the game’s history, faced an unexpected 14-day ban for being AFK during a critical period of the tournament.
The Incident at Worlds 2023
As T1 fought for its fourth world title, Faker encountered an unforeseen hurdle. He received a penalty for going AFK (Away From Keyboard) during a ranked match amidst the intense competition of Worlds 2023.
faker got banned for 14 days because of the Busan internet outage during worlds
riot immediately un banned him but
he wrote an apology letter to riot saying "im sorry, i wont leave the game again" pic.twitter.com/6Ed2bMKtXK
— Caedrel (@Caedrel) November 28, 2023
Riot’s Stance on AFK Players
- Riot Games has been intensifying efforts to improve its reporting system to combat poor player behavior.
- Leaving a game is a punishable offense, and even the stature of the world’s best player doesn’t exempt one from sanctions, as evidenced by Faker’s ban.
Details of Faker’s Ban
- Faker’s 14-day AFK ban occurred during Worlds 2023 after he disconnected from a match.
- Marc “Caedrel” Lamont revealed that the ban followed an internet outage in Busan, South Korea.
- Marcelo “Ayel” Mello, a Brazilian player, noted that Faker disconnected after an ambush in the mid-lane, leading to the report and subsequent ban.
The Aftermath and Resolution
- Riot Games quickly lifted the ban, acknowledging the unusual circumstances.
- Faker apologized to Riot for leaving the game, expressing regret in a message.
Impact of Internet Issues
- The internet failure affected not only Faker’s account but also T1’s ability to train effectively, as highlighted by T1 Becker, the team’s General Manager.
- Despite these challenges, T1 triumphed over Weibo Gaming with a decisive 3-0 victory in the Worlds 2023 final.
The Incident that Became an Anecdote
The incident serves as a reminder of the stringent rules enforced in professional esports, regardless of a player’s status. Faker’s situation, although resolved swiftly, underscores the importance of fair play and adherence to rules, even in the face of technical difficulties.