Buzz
Meiko's departure inadvertently 'assists' Faker.
The final transfers of the 2023 season are coming to a close, and one of the two regions with the largest LOL scene in the world, LPL, has begun finalizing its deals. As usual, LPL is immersed in transfer rumors and truly explosive 'blockbuster' deals. However, in recent years, even teams in the region have had to tighten their belts due to general economic difficulties. Consequently, many players have taken career-changing steps after years of playing for a single team.
Recently, Meiko, the last 'national team hero' of Edward Gaming, officially bids farewell to the team he has been associated with for the early years of his career (from December 2014 until now). Not only one of EDG's most successful players, but Meiko is also considered an icon of the team. During Meiko's time here, he witnessed many teammates come and go. However, his departure from EDG, perhaps, was not something Meiko had thought about until this season.
Furthermore, Meiko's departure 'coincidentally' helps Faker set a new milestone: The longest-serving player for a single team in a Major region. Faker has been with SKT T1/T1 since the early days of his career, and to this day, he has worn the T1 jersey for over 10 years. This is an achievement that is not easily broken, especially in a highly competitive league like LCK. Not to mention, to stay long-term with a team, one must consider not only professional skills but also influence, communication effectiveness, and non-professional contributions of the player.
However, looking at the broader League of Legends scene, Faker still trails behind a player, namely the 'LJL Game King' - Yutapon. The Japanese player, the same age as Faker but debuted over a year earlier, played for the LD50 Gaming team. Later, when LD50 Gaming was acquired by FocusMe, Yutapon continued to battle under the new team name until now. Thus, on a global scale in the League of Legends scene, Faker still lags behind a year compared to the Japanese player.
Meiko, Yutapon, and Faker are all symbols of loyalty in the League of Legends player community. However, Meiko had to part ways with EDG after a season that wasn't particularly successful. Currently, the competition is only an underground rivalry between Faker and Yutapon.
