League of Legends: The best players that defined an era 

Legends are written down in eternity as the peak of what a gamer can become. Many aspire to become them while others watch in awe at unattainable greatness. League of Legends has spawned many such icons since its launch in 2009 who are still known as the best today. Discover who these legendary figures are and their contributions. 

Key Takeaways:

• Faker is considered the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) in League of Legends esports. Some players have defeated him but he’s still consistently the favourite in all fixtures.
• The esports scene is not the only platform for great players to shine. Some of the regarded best players in League of Legends are streamers, showcasing their skills outside the pro circuit.
• What makes a player great in League of Legends isn’t just one admirable feat but the consistency they bring in their performance and career. 

Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok

• Main role: Mid-lane
• Most-played champions: Azir, Corki, Ryze, Orianna, and Leblanc

The most iconic player in League of Legends esports is none other than Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok. Faker is the team captain and part-owner of his professional team, T1, the most successful esports team in the field. They’ve won the World Championship (Worlds) a total of four times and Faker is on the roster for all of their nine appearances.

The most notable feat Faker is known for is his earned title, the ‘Unkillable Demon King’ for having reflexes so quick that nobody can eliminate him even if they tried. He earned this title on day 3 of Worlds 2013. That was T1’s (formerly SK Telecom T1) first appearance in the World Championship and he maintained his reputation as one of the top League of Legends players.

Faker is on such a high pedestal among League of Legends players that his name is well-known even outside of the game’s community. His name is cemented in pop culture and will remain as the representative of League of Legends’ cultural symbol for years to come. 

Jian ‘Uzi’ Zi-Hao

• Main role: Bottom-lane or attack damage carry (ADC)
• Most-played champions: Kai’sa, Vayne, Caitlynn, and Ezreal

There are no League of Legends players ranking above Jian ‘Uzi’ Zi-Hao in the bottom lane. Most casual players mistake the attack damage carry (ADC) to be straightforward and less impactful than the others so it’s hard to appreciate a good pro in that role. However, Uzi made a name for himself in his ability to combine flashy plays with racking kill counts by the 10s. 

Uzi is well known for taking pentakills, a difficult feat to pull off even just once per game, let alone in the professional scene. It’s so rare that there are only 5 pentakills recorded in the League of Legends Pro League (LPL). Uzi is responsible for three of those recorded feats, making him one of the most formidable players in a skirmish.

Bet on live esports matches at Gamdom

Tyler ‘Loltyler1’ Steinkamp

• Main role: Challenger rank in every role
• Most-played champions: Cho’gath, Ivern, Aurelion Sol, and Pyke

Stepping away from the esports scene this time, Tyler ‘Loltyler1’ Steinkamp is one of the most prominent streamers in the esports community. He dabbles in many games but his fame came primarily from League of Legends. Most know him as noisy, disruptive, and some would argue as ‘toxic’ leading to his temporary ban from the game in 2016. 

As an internet personality, he has worked as T1’s streamer and is frequently seen close with Faker on social media. In games, Loltyler1 is most well-known for reaching Challenger rank on every role in League of Legends. Reaching this rank for one role is already indicative of one’s proficiency in a given lane so doing it for all possible lanes proves his prowess in all of them. 

Kang ‘Ambition’ Chan-yong

• Main role: Jungle
• Most-played champions: Kha’zix, Lee Sin, and Sejuani

Kang ‘Ambition’ Chan-yong is undoubtedly one of the best League of Legends players of all time, despite a relatively short tenure in the esports scene. He debuted in 2011 and retired in 2018 to become a streamer for his latest team, Gen.G. On top of that, he has also become an analyst for Riot Games.

Ambition was originally in the mid-lane but he made a career shift to the jungle where he flourished. It was a rough transition but a decision he ultimately justified in his 2017 season when he won the World Championship with Team Samsung Galaxy. Though he’s no longer in the professional scene, you can still see feats at work via video on demand (VOD) from his streams.

Luka ‘Perkz’ Perković

• Main role: Mid-lane
• Most-played champions: Lucian, Yazuo, and Leblanc

Players often earn their fame in affiliation with a specific team and being the face of that group means that they are the best in its roster. This is the case with Luka ‘Perkz’ Perković who was G2’s face for a long time between 2015 and 2020. He switched teams since then until landing in Team Heretics from 2023 to the present. 

Perkz is a high-value draft in the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) and he is always aiming for the World Championship title. The closest he’s been to the trophy was in 2019 when G2 reached the finals but ultimately lost to FunPlus Phoenix. Nevertheless, the teams he joins are often in the top spot of the LEC and Perkz puts in a lot of work to excel in his role.

Jeong ‘Apdo/Dopa’ Sang-gil

• Main role: Mid-lane
• Most-played champions: Twisted Fate, Orianna, Kassadin, and Zed

Jeong ‘Apdo/Dopa’ Sang-gil has one of the shortest tenures in League of Legends esports. He started in September 2013 and promptly quit in April 2014, ending his career at less than a year old. Even so, that was enough spotlight for LoL fans to appreciate his talent as one of the best League of Legends players worldwide. 

Even outside of esports, Dopa continued to earn fame as a solo queue (SoloQ) player. He is considered the best in this field, especially when he’s in his preferred lane, the middle. There is no longer any opportunity to prove it on the professional scene but most LoL fans consider Dopa as the second best in the role to Faker.

Many League of Legends analysts and fans alike argue that Dopa is better than Faker as a player. The Unkillable Demon King has the upper hand in the middle lane but Dopa is more versatile. He is famous in the mid-lane but he can effectively play all roles, an essential skill in SoloQ where he is drafted into random teams rather than secure a good position. 

Heo ‘Showmaker’ Su

• Main role: Mid-lane
• Most-played champions: Katarina, Kassadin, Leblanc, and Syndra

Heo ‘Showmaker’ Su is currently one of the youngest pro players in League of Legends, being only 23 as of 2024 and he debuted with Damwon Gaming (now Dplus KIA) in 2017. True to his name, he’s a flashy player in the mid-lane, racking up high kill count every chance he gets. He’s also a mainstay for Dplus KIA as the team’s foil to T1’s Faker. 

It’s one thing to always be compared to someone regarded as the best in the game. However, Showmaker doesn’t just get compared to Faker. Many consider him as the rival to the Unkillable Demon King. All fans of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) compare their statistics every year and tune in to who will win their head-to-head. Their latest game was in the LCK 2024 finals where Dplus KIA won 3:2 vs T1.

Cho ‘Mata’ Se-hyeong

• Main role: Support
• Most-played champions: Zyra, Blitzcrank, Thresh, and Fiddlesticks

The support role has been undervalued in League of Legends and Cho ‘Mata’ Se-hyeong is the reason it earned a lot of respect over time. He is primarily known for his strategies, employing high technical familiarity with various abilities. Mata can think outside the box and control situations in unexpected ways even with well-known champions. 

Mata no longer plays as part of a starting lineup. He relegated himself to the sidelines as the head coach for Royal Never Give Up (RNG) from 2019 to 2020 and became an analyst for Riot Games Inc. in 2023. He returned to coaching for Gen.G that same year but only until 2024, when he was relegated to play as a substitute support player for the same team. 

Keep up with the latest LoL news and fixtures with Gamdom

The League of Legends esports is a dynamic, ever-changing scene so stay informed about the latest updates. With Gamdom’s blogs, you are always in the know of the esports’ competitive landscape. Information is the key to making a safe bet and our articles can give you insight into recent events. 

Gamdom also covers League of Legends fixtures in all regional and international leagues including the World Championship, the LCK, LEC, and more. You can also follow your favourite teams and bet on their games in the Mid-Season Invitational. All bets add to your progress in King of the Hill and the Royalty Club programs, enriching your betting experience at Gamdom.

Have a worthwhile crypto betting experience at Gamdom