The Final Fight: Season 3 with SKT T1 K's Faker

Riot·Oct 19, 2015·2 votes·48,202 views

The Final Fight is a series where we catch up with World Champions from Seasons 1-4 and have them recount the special moments before and after they took down the Nexus to win Worlds. When did they know they had won? And how did it feel to become a League of Legends World Champion?

After the Taipei Assassins shocked the world with their dominant performance in Season 2, one Korean team came back in full force at the 2013 World Championship, held at the iconic Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Centered around Faker, one of the best mid laners in the world -- both then and now -- SKTelecom T1 K ruled the tournament, only dropping three games throughout the entire event.

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"The 2013 Championship, when we were first beginning from Group Stages, we didn't feel anxious," recalls Faker. "We had this confidence with us -- because we were scrimming with other teams and practicing. Having these matches, we thought, 'Oh, I think we're going to get to the Finals.'"

Season 3 was all about mechanics, and team strategy didn't really play a big part, according to Faker. So, naturally, the most mechanically gifted team came out on top. "Back then, there weren't particularly strong picks or strategy," he says. "Everything was smooth sailing, and it just happened the way it did. We didn't have to really strategize or put in incredible effort."

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SKTelecom T1 K wasn't the best just because they had Faker, though. Every team member brought something special to the roster. Jungler bengi was instrumental in helping Faker get ahead and controlling the early game. And from the stalwart Impact, who bullied enemy laners and provided split-pushing pressure in the top lane, all the way down to the rambunctious duo of Piglet and Poohmandu, who provided zone control and clean-up power in team fights in the bottom lane, no one could overcome SKT T1 K in a Best of 5.

"Once we got to the Finals we were pretty confident we were going to win against Royal 3-0, by scrimming with them and all that," says Faker. "We thought it was pretty doable. It was really easy and it was very predictable."

In the Final Fight of the 2013 World Championship, SKTelecom T1 K had Royal Club's back against the wall, and proved how easy it was. The Korean powerhouse was already up 2-0 against the Chinese team in the Best of 5 series, and had taken full control of the game in only 15 minutes.

SKT was storming down mid lane when Wh1T3ZZ, on Fizz, decided to go for a play. Unfortunately, he went in a smidge too early and his team didn't follow him up quickly enough. Tabe was focused down by Piglet's Corki, who aggressively nailed Royal's support in his own base with a Missile Barrage. Faker and bengi dealt with Godlike while Impact split-push the bottom tower down.

It was a messy affair for Royal, and afterwards they couldn't deal with the push from SKT T1 K. Taking out the bottom inhibitor, SKT T1 K swung around and grabbed Dragon and Baron, amidst catching out Royal members in their own jungle. The rotations pre-empted the last push of the game, and before SKT T1 K knew it, they were the Season 3 World Champions.

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"I remember very clearly that moment. But to me, it didn't hit me yet. It was like winning another game. It didn't really feel like I was winning the actual World Championship," says Faker.

"How happy I get after winning a game depends on how hard it was to achieve that victory. But the Royal Club game, wasn't as difficult," he continues. "It wasn't a hard thing to do, so it didn't really feel like, "Oh my gosh, that was amazing!" It was more like, "Oh, we did it! It's over now.'"

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"I felt a release, like a relaxation or a peace of heart that everything was over, and everything was settled," says Faker.

But that was back then. Now, he's had plenty of time to think back to when he became a World Champion. "In the moment, winning the World Championship didn't really hit me. But in retrospect, having a World Championship title on my belt is a huge accomplishment and I totally feel that," he says. "I'm really proud of that. And I'm really, really glad that we won."

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Let us know about your favorite memories from the Season 3 World Championship, see what Fnatic's xPeke had to say about Season 1, Taipei Assassins' MiSTakE thoughts on Season 2, and check back next Monday to hear what Samsung White's imp thought about winning Season 4.

For more past and present Worlds moments throughout Worlds 2015, stay tuned to Lolesports.

38 Comments

JUNG EUNJlOct 19, 20157 votes

SKT for worlds :D

TooTallMoeOct 19, 20157 votes

Bow wow wow yippy yo yippy yay

Camba4everOct 19, 20156 votes

Well, Fnatic took them to 5 games at MSI and its looking like its gonna be a re-match for the championship. So if SKT wants a challenge, they got it.

GłoobOct 19, 20156 votes

Except SKT is looking WAYYYYY better than at MSI. Remember the SKT that lost to EDG? Now remember the SKT that stomped EDG twice.

NikhilitoOct 19, 20153 votes

Also FNC is looking WAYYYYYYY better than at MSI. Remember the FNC that went to 5 games against UOL? Now remember the FNC that stomped UOL thrice.

Still IllmaticOct 19, 20152 votes

UOL as in Unicorns of Love? Lol that team is the biggest joke in the world. Fnatic have no chance and they're going to lose to Koo anyways

RainRyderOct 20, 20154 votes

rude bro... RUDE. and Koo looks good man but Fanatic looks better. don't be a diiiick

OHminusOct 20, 20152 votes

Remember the FNC that had almost no competition in EU? The FNC that lost to AHQ and C9?

Anth895Oct 20, 20152 votes

To be fair, against C9 they were really just messing about.

p0psiclesOct 20, 20154 votes

That EDG that "SKT stomped twice" just got 3-0d by Fnatic in the quarters. Let's be real, that EDG team was nowhere near as strong as they were at MSI. SKT have not been challenged yet with their easy group and AHQ in the quarters. It will be an interesting final regardless of whether they play Fnatic or Koo.

RP TzuyuOct 20, 20151 votes

lol just shut the fuck up... LGD was #1 seed in China or whatever that crap was got stomped and didn't make it out of group stage, 2nd seed H2K from EU got stomped and didn't make it out of group stage, BTK was the weakest one and almost stomped EDG in the group stage, just because FNC won against those weakling doens't make them the strongest or that they got stronger.... all those seeds in NA got stomped so badly in the group stage, and poeple still saying CLG will win S5 world ... what the fuck....

NichenzuOct 20, 20152 votes

I can't tell if you're trolling or just misinformed...LGD was in groups with OG...FNC wasn't in goups with any of them...and they won EDG...give them props....sounds stupid calling pros weaklings...they are light years ahead of all of us...just have some respect dude

TarkamacskaOct 21, 20151 votes

Dafuq did i just read :o

RapidCaramelOct 19, 20155 votes

As much as I would love for Fnatic to win, just as a team SKT feels much, much stronger and I would expect them to have a pretty solid victory over Fnatic.

StickMasterKaiOct 19, 20152 votes

I don't want to be toxic or rude, but seriously who cares if they took them 5 games? It took 5 games for EDG to dominate SKT and is anyone saying that? Just focus Huni and you prettty much won the game. He feeds most of his games from what I been watching.

ScrippoOct 20, 20155 votes

People talking about SKT facing challenges..... Origen will be no contest, SKT will advance, believe me. SKT will drop 1 game to them MAX. Finals are going to be different. I see KOO taking it all the way to 5 games. Because lets be real. KOO is going to shit on Fnatic. The korean hype train is real boyyyss. #ALLKOREANFINAL #SKTWIN

DekeptionOct 20, 20156 votes

SKT vs FNC finals...would be nice to see OG vs FNC tho

HoOonEOct 21, 20152 votes

I don't mind Korea v Korea but that is just a repeat of LCK, I am more curious to see how Fnatic will do against SKT.

TarkamacskaOct 21, 20151 votes

Lol dude dont be so negative. KOO vs Fntic will be a close match. KOO was doing thousands of mistakes agains KT. They dont look stronger than Fntic and not even close to SKT.

eNcuvGomuxOct 26, 20151 votes

Funny part is how true this ended up being. I don't think a lot of people realized how mismatched the games were going to be due to a difference in training environment and a clear lack of playing most games to best of 5. Without that skill set of adapting to your opponent through the series and maintaining composure in the later games it proved to be entirely too difficult. I think if the western teams want to show a stronger showing in Worlds and international tournaments something has to change to best of formats in the LCS to best of 3's and best of 5's and get more game time to develop professionally.

StoneColdRavenOct 28, 20151 votes

I like how this got three downvotes even though it turned out that he was right.

Soon DooBooOct 19, 20154 votes

I still believe that SKT will take the worlds title. However, we have to admit that Origen and Fnatic are just as strong as SKT now. Cant wait to see the final showdowns....

RP TzuyuOct 20, 20152 votes

mata changing, Darius, Fiora top are now replaced Gnar, Hec, and Maokai .... at least we don't have to see Azir and Cassasopia every single game like in MSI... also assassins aint' as popular anymore :| like they will die faster than adc

ShadowX74Oct 20, 20154 votes

Looks like it's going to be OG vs SKT and then SKT vs FNC if they win that one. SKT's the obvious strongest team, but they are in for one wild ride.

SõõOct 27, 20151 votes

Haha You guys actually thought SKT was going to have a hard time? They still have yet to drop a single game in worlds and they're in the finals now xD. Sorry FNC fans but I was pretty sure they would be taken out in the quarters, no way they were beating KOO. Lets be real, no team in NA or EU has had any chance of winning worlds since season two with Moscow 5. Also season one barely counts as a real worlds since Asia didn't compete back then. So honestly ever since worlds has actually included the whole world, NA and EU have been really bad, not even making it to the finals once. Now both regions are recruiting Koreans, and no Korean team is taking in NA or EU players. In fact, the only NA and EU players who might be worlds level are Bjergson, xPeke, ZionSpartan and maybe BunnyFuFu. I don't mean to be mean, but you can't compare Fnatic, a team who had a tough time in groups to SKT who hadn't dropped one game and have already won a real worlds once. I'll bet that SKT beats KOO soundly with no losses 3-0 but it would be funny if SKT lost once to keep the streak going. SKT lost three games in season three worlds, Samsung White lost two, and now it would be funny if SKT lost one. Then we just need a team to go undefeated. I don't know why people suddenly think EU and NA teams are gonna win when they make it to or past the quarter finals. Hey, no disrespect, I'm a TSM fan so I can't talk shit, I'm just being real. If TSM was in Fnatics position I would think the same thing, "They'll most likely lose vs KOO and if they somehow make it past them, then SKT will 3-0 them." I think NA's most proud moment was when TSM won a single game off of Samsung Whte in the quarter finals. You should just admit when a team is as good as SKT who make so little mistakes and can capitalize on any mistake other teams make, and know that teams like Fnatic, and Origen who have, at best, shifty play styles and makes to many mistakes just can't win. Maybe next year, or the year after. I will always support NA and TSM, but I'm not afraid to admit when we're just not ready yet.

TrollFan01Oct 20, 20153 votes

Wouldn't it be something if SKT wins Worlds without dropping a single game?

RiotSpinneliOct 20, 20156 votes

Heck yeah! That would be a huge accomplishment.

HoOonEOct 21, 20152 votes

The only games they lost in season 3 were against Najin (I am pretty sure) so technically they had a 100% win rate (against teams from other regions)

Le MaxxOct 21, 20153 votes

I thin they lost vs OMG aswell in groups. OMG later lost vs Royal Club in the quaterfinal, while SKT won until the Finals (2-0 vs gamania bears and 3-2 vs najin)

TrollFan01Oct 21, 20153 votes

SKT lost their first game against OMG in Groups.

KarePhreeOct 19, 20152 votes

nice summoner 11

WaseOct 20, 20152 votes

no love for bengi?

RiotSpinneliOct 20, 20154 votes

bengi is awesome! We've spoken to him in a few other interviews throughout Worlds 2015, but for this one we just talked with Faker. Thanks for reading! :)

Earl EulrichOct 20, 20151 votes

though Bengi had much more to do with them getting world champions in S3 than Faker...feels like you´re just riding the Faker-hype.

Count BuffonOct 20, 20152 votes

Rooting for SKT this year is like rooting for entropy.

BeatinWarDrumzOct 20, 20151 votes

why the downvote(s)

TG RiceOct 22, 20151 votes

Yooooo I'd like to comment on this. My theory is SKT will win vs Origen 3-1. Fnatic wins vs KOO 3-1. Im a huge fan of SKT so I would love to see them win but against Fnatic in the finals it can go either way. I think it would go all the way to game 5.