Faker and his superstar teammates from T1 delighted Vietnamese fans during the biggest eSports celebration of the year, held in Hanoi on December 20 and 21.

“Xin chào các fan Việt Nam, tôi là Faker” ("Hello Vietnamese fans, I’m Faker") - those few Vietnamese words, spoken by the legendary player himself, ignited explosive cheers at the VPBank Presents T1 in Vietnam: The Promise Fulfilled showcase on the afternoon of December 21.

For fans of League of Legends (LoL) in Vietnam, the dream finally came true after six years: meeting their idol in person, right in their home country.

“It feels like our love for Faker is finally being rewarded,” one female fan said.

“It’s been so long waiting for this moment… and it’s even more emotional than I imagined,” another devoted “Tê Con” (a nickname for T1 fans) shared with tears in her eyes.

Compared to T1 supporters across the world, Vietnamese fans enjoyed unprecedented access. Not only did they get to welcome Faker - the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) - but also witness five championship trophies and the iconic ATI phoenix mascot up close.

The experience didn’t stop there.

T1 also faced off in a historic best-of-three showmatch against Vietnam’s LoL All-Star team, featuring legendary players like Levi, SofM, Kiaya, Archie, and Thay Giao Ba. In a surprise result, the Vietnamese stars bested T1 with a 2-1 victory.

To make Faker’s visit possible, organizers invested heavily in what became the largest eSports event ever staged in Vietnam. The T1 squad traveled via private jet, and the production team brought in familiar faces like MC Lee Sung-hoon - renowned for hosting T1’s biggest events - and Untara, a former T1 player and now one of South Korea’s most famous streamers. Their presence added to the welcoming, home-like atmosphere for the team.

Yen Nhi