Faker names Uzi and Knight as rivals who defined his League of Legends legacy

    After more than a decade at the top of League of Legends esports, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok still remembers the rivals who truly tested him.

    Faker Faker

    Asked about his toughest opponents, the five-time world champion immediately pointed to two familiar faces from China's LPL - Jian "Uzi" Zi-Hao and Zhuo "Knight" Ding.

    "I've met so many great players at Worlds throughout my career," Faker told Mais Esports. "I would consider maybe Uzi and Knight from the LPL because I've faced them many, many times. I always have a lot of fun against them - these are matchups people really look forward to."

    Uzi, who retired early due to health issues, remains one of China's most celebrated players. His 2018 MSI victory with RNG broke Korea's international dominance and ignited the modern LCK–LPL rivalry. Though he fell to Faker's SKT T1 in the 2013 Worlds final — his closest shot at the Summoner's Cup — his brilliance earned him a place alongside Faker in League's Hall of Legends.

    Knight, meanwhile, has long been hailed as Faker's spiritual successor — a mechanical prodigy capable of matching him blow for blow in the mid lane. After winning MSI 2023, Knight's hopes of a Worlds title were dashed by Faker's T1 in the 2024 final, echoing Uzi's heartbreak a decade earlier.

    As Worlds 2025 continues, Knight remains in contention for the elusive crown, while Faker and T1 prepare for another showdown with Gen.G in the Swiss Stage. BLG, led by Knight, will face G2 Esports, setting up yet another chapter in a rivalry that continues to shape League of Legends history.