Faker and ShowMaker are currently in two opposite extremes for Chinese fans.
Recently, particularly since the start of the 2022 season, Faker has been a frequent topic in the media, especially within the Chinese League of Legends community. Earlier this year, he encountered issues regarding the Qingtian player recruitment incident. Subsequently, at MSI 2022, he was suspected of underestimating the players from Royal Never Give Up. More recently, Faker made a rather sensitive comment regarding gamers' IQ, which sparked outrage in the Chinese LoL community.

For the LPL community, Faker's statements may not necessarily carry as much negative connotation as interpreted by some overly zealous or anti-fan individuals, but they have significantly tarnished the reputation of 'The Demon King.' Previously, not only in the LCK but also within the Chinese LoL community, Faker was highly esteemed. He even shared the limelight with TheShy, SofM, or Uzi, MadLife - individuals who made substantial contributions to LoL in general and the LPL in particular.

However, Faker could now become a topic of intense debate among fans. In this scenario, another LCK player, considered the arch-rival and once expected to be the new icon of the LCK after Faker - ShowMaker, 'inadvertently reaps benefits.'

In a recent statement, ShowMaker highly praised the young player Dream - a rookie of Victory Five who was used as a temporary replacement for Rookie, who had to return to Korea due to family reasons and has yet to come back. Dream has performed exceptionally well, helping V5 maintain an undefeated record from the beginning of the Summer 2022 split until now.

Furthermore, ShowMaker's DWG KIA in the 2021 season faced defeat in 2 finals against representatives from the LPL, namely RNG (MSI 2021) and EDward Gaming (2021 Worlds final). However, ShowMaker himself made no controversial statements. He simply praised both opponents and acknowledged their well-deserved victories. According to the LPL community, ShowMaker has a strong personality, always demonstrating confidence, but he is more reserved in his statements following defeats.

Certainly, the 'monument' that Faker has built throughout his career will not collapse easily. However, it can be observed that, particularly at present, ShowMaker is achieving success in shaping his image in the eyes of the international fan community, specifically within the LPL. As for himself, perhaps Faker should also minimize troubles, in order to focus on the titles he always seeks.
