Analyzing the historic Worlds 2021 showdown between Faker and ShowMaker that defined League of Legends’ GOAT debate
The Stage is Set: Legacy-Defining Semifinal
Throughout his legendary League of Legends career, Faker has consistently dominated without any serious challengers to his throne. However, the Worlds 2021 semifinal presented ShowMaker with the ultimate opportunity to rewrite competitive history and establish himself as Faker’s true equal.
Since his explosive debut in 2013, Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok has completely shaped professional League of Legends. At Worlds 2021, Heo ‘ShowMaker’ Su stood poised to match his legacy. The DWG KIA versus T1 semifinal clash represented far more than just a tournament match—it would fundamentally determine how we remember League’s greatest player of all time.
The professional journey began on April 6, 2013, when a youthful Faker first appeared for SK Telecom T1 2 against CJ Entus Blaze. His career statistics since then are staggering: 967 professional games, 648 victories, 3,574 eliminations, 10 domestic championships, two MSI trophies, and three Summoner’s Cups. For nearly a decade, no competitor came close to challenging the Unkillable Demon King’s dominance. Legendary players like China’s Jian ‘Uzi’ Zi-Hao, former protégé Lee ‘Scout’ Ye-chan, European star Luka ‘Perkz’ Perkovic, and elite talents like TheShy, Rookie, Knight, and Nuguri all failed to threaten Faker’s position. However, ShowMaker emerged as the first genuine contender to the throne Faker had occupied unchallenged since 2015.
Riot GamesFaker pursued an unprecedented fourth Summoner’s Cup at Worlds 2021, having last claimed the trophy in 2016. While the two mid lane giants had previously clashed in multiple LCK playoff matches, including the recent Summer 2021 finals, the Worlds semifinal carried exponentially higher stakes. Many analysts and fans considered this encounter the true championship match of the entire tournament. Beyond the immediate prize of advancing to finals, Faker and ShowMaker competed for something even more exclusive: definitive recognition as League of Legends’ ultimate competitor.
ShowMaker’s Meteoric Rise and Evolution
Representing the challenger position, defending world champion Heo ‘ShowMaker’ Su entered the match with impressive credentials. The head-to-head record heavily favored ShowMaker at 28-15 across their 43 previous encounters, establishing him as anything but an underdog. His ‘ShowFaker’ nickname, originally coined by analyst Bok ‘Reapered’ Han-gyu, reflected his ability to outperform the legend himself.
Riot GamesWhile ShowMaker demonstrated individual superiority over Faker in previous matches, the question remained whether his career legacy could ultimately rival the Unkillable Demon King’s. The 21-year-old phenom perfectly embodied his competitive name through consistently spectacular performances. His dual personality—composed professional on stage versus expressive entertainer in solo queue—translated into dynamic, unpredictable gameplay. At Worlds 2021, ShowMaker maintained the tournament’s fourth-highest KDA at 8.36, but his most significant development came in strategic adaptation. Unlike his dominant mid-jungle synergy with Kim ‘Canyon’ Geon-bu during their 2020 championship run, ShowMaker transformed into a utility-focused player who enabled Kim ‘Khan’ Dong-ha and Jang ‘Ghost’ Yong-jun to carry from side lanes. This evolution from flashy playmaker to complete team player mirrored the same developmental path Faker had previously undertaken.
DWG KIA fully embraced this strategic identity following their disappointing MSI finals defeat, which prompted intensive summer reflection including ShowMaker’s temporary role swap to AD carry. “I believe we are not at our peak yet. I don’t think we are as strong as we were at Worlds last year,” ShowMaker confessed to Dexerto during MSI, shortly before their narrow 3-2 series loss to RNG. “We’ve got some homework to do in order to bring up our performance.” The team completed that homework thoroughly, positioning ShowMaker to join the exclusive group of approximately twelve players who have captured multiple World Championships. A second consecutive title would place DWG KIA’s dominance alongside T1’s legendary back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016.
Riot GamesSince DWG KIA’s Worlds 2020 triumph, ShowMaker developed into one of League’s most versatile and complete competitors.
Faker’s Strategic Mastery and Enduring Legacy
In the opposing corner stood three-time world champion Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok, pursuing historic records with T1. Analysts frequently cite Faker’s transformation from mechanically gifted mid laner to strategically brilliant team player as definitive proof of his GOAT status. His evolution toward enabling Kim ‘Canna’ Chang-dong and Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyeong through superior macro understanding, combined with his unparalleled trophy collection, solidified his legendary position. During 2020, it appeared Faker might be phased out in favor of rising talent Lee ‘Clozer’ Ju-hyeon. Coach Kim Jeong-soo confirmed this transitional period in an InvenGlobal interview: “Faker’s stressed out, and honestly, his form is not at his best. He even struggled when he had few of his champions target banned,” he revealed before T1 missed Worlds 2020. “We talked extensively. I can confirm I provided strong guidance, and through this process, Faker discovered renewed competitive motivation.” The 2021 version of Faker no longer relied on spectacular five-man shockwaves or emperor-worthy Shurima Shuffles. Instead, he mastered game reading and team-oriented play better than any global mid laner, including ShowMaker. While he might experience CS deficits against opponents like Jeong ‘Chovy’ Ji-hoon or suffer more frequent lane deaths due to targeted opposition resources, these individual statistics became irrelevant when T1’s coordinated play overwhelmed enemies. Despite his extensive Worlds experience, Faker continued demonstrating adaptive learning capacity. “Following previous disappointments, I recognized my concentration levels had diminished compared to earlier career stages. For Worlds 2021, I specifically prepared to maintain heightened focus throughout,” Faker stated during a post-quarterfinal press conference after defeating Hanwha Life.
Colin Young-Wolff for Riot GamesFaker maintained continuous growth following his heartbreaking Worlds 2017 defeat. In a Dexerto interview, Faker noted he hadn’t encountered “exceptionally impressive mid laners” yet but anticipated a compelling rematch against ShowMaker. “Perhaps in subsequent stages, I’ll discover a favorite opponent to compete against,” he elaborated. “Potentially the tournament’s strongest contenders—DWG KIA. However, I’ve competed extensively against LCK teams in Korea. I would appreciate opportunities against mid laners from different regions.” While that specific opportunity wouldn’t materialize immediately, advancing past DWG KIA would setup a finals matchup against his former trainee Scout—provided EDward Gaming overcame Gen.G in the other semifinal.
Significant discussion surrounded whether Worlds 2021 might represent Faker’s final World Championship appearance. Retirement speculation had circulated since his 2017 finals defeat. Faker’s adaptive playstyle suggests he could continue competing professionally indefinitely—until mandatory military service intervenes. He remains among the global elite in his position, even while sharing the “best” designation with others. While different from the 2013 championship version, this evolved Faker still represents competitive excellence. Regardless of 2021 outcomes, his continued presence seems likely, though this potentially represented his optimal—and possibly final—opportunity for Worlds glory.
Riot GamesWorlds 2021 potentially offered Faker his last realistic chance to secure the elusive fourth championship.
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The five-game Saturday series would determine League of Legends’ GOAT discussion for years. A Faker victory leading to his fourth Summoner’s Cup would make it nearly impossible for ShowMaker to ever challenge his throne again, with critics noting he failed to conquer the Unkillable Demon King at his competitive peak. Faker himself maintained that no exact equal existed—he primarily competed against self-improvement. “Previously, my approach centered on enjoying competition. Currently, I view the game as a personal challenge for continuous self-surpassing. The focus is constant development,” Faker explained. “I consider the three other LCK-qualified mid laners [ShowMaker, Bdd, Chovy] potential matches for my level.” Conversely, a ShowMaker victory against T1 and Faker followed by consecutive DWG KIA championships would necessitate serious GOAT discussions. This fundamental legacy implication made the semifinal critically important for both competitors. Only four players had previously achieved back-to-back Worlds victories: Faker, Bengi, Bang, and Wolf. A DWG KIA 2021 triumph would expand that exclusive group to eight members. “Faker represents exceptional skill, so the outcome will depend on which player performs better that specific day,” ShowMaker commented during a post-MAD Lions victory press conference.
Riot GamesA ShowMaker victory at Worlds 2021 would seriously challenge Faker’s position as League’s undeniable GOAT. ShowMaker perfectly captured the series’ significance in pre-game comments to Korizon: “We may experience a historically significant series [against T1].” Adopting the Worlds motto, this matchup would “determine or destroy” established professional League understanding. With 469 games, 326 wins, 1,663 eliminations, three domestic titles and one Summoner’s Cup—with more potentially coming—ShowMaker possessed the opportunity to reconstruct Faker’s throne as his own. Regardless of results, the DWG KIA versus T1 confrontation would enter history books. Essential viewing for any esports enthusiast.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Faker vs ShowMaker: How Worlds 2021 semifinal will define League of Legends history Analyzing the historic Worlds 2021 showdown between Faker and ShowMaker that defined League of Legends' GOAT debate