The bespectacled, floppy-fringed ‘Faker’, real name Lee Sang-hyeok, is the world’s top League of Legends gamer and in hyper-wired Korea, he enjoys similar fame and fortune to top basketball or baseball players.

Faker, 22, will be one of the biggest stars at next month’s regional Olympics, the quadrennial Asian Games in Indonesia, where eSports will be held as a demonstration event for the first time.

It marks a step forward in gaming’s efforts to be considered a genuine sport, possibly even gaining a slot at the Olympics in the future — good news for global eSports powerhouses like South Korea.

The South enjoys ultra-fast broadband and a vibrant Internet culture, and internet cafes armed with powerful high-end computers catering to school-age gamers can be found on many street corners.

“eSports player” consistently ranks among children’s most popular future jobs, coming eighth in an education ministry survey of elementary school pupils last year — higher than “scientist”.

Faker started playing video games in elementary school, and excelled at League of Legends — an online battle game introduced by Riot Games in 2009.

As he climbed the online LoL rankings speculation mounted about his identity, and he formed a team with friends to compete at amateur tournaments.

He dropped out of high school after being offered a job as a professional, making his debut in 2013 and thrashing top players one after another as he made his way to stardom.

eSports ‘fully embraced’

Korea’s eSports scene is reminiscent of Germany’s soccer culture, with grassroot talents nurtured from a young age, some of them making their way to amateur leagues and, after years of competition and effort, professional teams.

Many leading firms have their own eSports teams, with Faker believed to be paid at least 3 billion won ($2.6 million) a year by his sponsor SK Telecom, the South’s top wireless operator.

“This is a country where eSports has been fully embraced as a type of sport among youth, and even college sports championships have eSport events,” said Kim Cheol-Hag, secretary general of the Korea eSports Association.

Last year, eSports was ranked the third most popular sport among South Koreans aged 15-29 after soccer and baseball, according to a survey by Nielsen Korea.

Multiple TV channels are dedicated to broadcasting eSports competitions, held at large football stadiums to roars from tens of thousands of fans, or sleek special arenas designed to showcase the games.

“Playing games became a full-time career in the South in the mid-2000s when many pro eSports teams were established, ahead of other countries,” Kim said.

With 25 million players — half the population — the South is the world’s sixth-biggest video game market.

But many South Korean players and coaches have been hired to work for top teams around the world, including China and the US — eSports’ two biggest markets.

“Now the US and China have the same systems and have caught up with us,” Kim told AFP, “but we have know-how and culture that has been accumulated for decades helping us stay at the top of the game”.

‘Improve your social standing’

South Korea’s obsession with video games dates back to the 1990s when Starcraft — a US science fiction strategy game — enjoyed huge popularity, so much so that the South accounted for more than half its worldwide sales.

Nowadays teenagers hoping to become professional players — or popular among their game-crazed peers — flock to a growing number of private, after-hours schools coaching them how to play video games better.

A typical “game academy” features a rows of teenagers or men in their 20s playing Overwatch or League of Legends, with a coach — usually a former pro — watching their performances and suggesting better moves.

“If you become a good gamer, it can improve your social standing and help you make more friends,” game academy student Kim Han-eol told Seoul’s YTN news channel.

Six other players will accompany Faker to Indonesia next month to compete.

“The Asian Games is not an event only watched by gamers but something watched by the whole nation,” Faker told reporters. “I will win the game no matter what.”

At a first-of-its-kind summit in Lausanne on Saturday, eSports leaders will meet International Olympic Committee executives to explore how the enormous popularity of gaming can draw more young fans towards the Games.

“The goal of the forum is not to look at options to integrate eSports into the Olympics,” IOC sports director Kit McConnell told AFP.

The goal, he explained, is “to study synergies between the two worlds and explore opportunities.”

IOC president Thomas Bach — conscious that the Olympics are increasingly appealing to an older demographic — has made outreaches to the gaming world to connect with younger audiences.

Last week, the IOC tweeted images of Bach gaming with Kai ‘Deto’ Wollin, world champion of Playstation’s “FIFA.”

The image of the sternly-spoken former fencer enthusiastically clutching a console may look incongruous, but Bach has made clear that he thinks eSports can help the IOC.

During a trip to India in April, he did not rule out the prospect of eSport events eventually being fully integrated into the Olympics, but laid out some clear conditions.

“The red line would be video games that involve killing, those that promote violence or any type of discrimination…

“Those could not be recognised as members of the Olympic movement,” he said.

Olympic recognition, mistrust?

eSports specialist Nicolas Pidancet, who has organised recent editions of the Geneva Gaming Convention, has been pushing Switzerland’s Olympic committee to grant membership status to the national eSports federation, after similar moves in Italy in Sweden.

“The term ‘sport’ does not fit into one definition,” Pidancet told AFP.

He said that formal recognition of eSports federations as members of the Olympic movement would bolster development programmes, lead to more structured competition and boost gaming’s credibility among sports media.

Pidancet noted that there was anxiety within the eSport world about fostering closer ties to “classic” sports, notably over what impact major corporate partnerships would have on what was once a niche community.

But he described those concerns as out-dated because the days when eSports were dominated by a small group of devoted players were already “a thing of the past.”

Massive global company’s like Intel and China’s Alibaba, which already support the IOC, have partnerships with eSports competitions, he said.

Major obstacles

Integrating gaming into the Olympic system will face some clear challenges.

“One of the first criteria (for IOC recognition) is that a sport must be governed by a single, recognised federation,” McConnell said.

That level of streamlined control within eSports seems a remote prospect for now, since the creators of individual games will inevitably want to retain some control over how their product is used and marketed in global competition.

Ensuring gamers comply with doping restrictions is likely to be another thorny subject.

But whatever hurdles exist, Pidancet insisted that “the future depends on more synergies,” calling Saturday’s summit an “historic” opportunity to build bridges between the Olympic movement and the gaming world.

The Thai tennis boss said that with the Asiad tennis competition taking place between 19-29 August and the year’s last tennis major starting on August 27, many top Asian would opt to chase glory in New York instead.

That will give more chances for his main hopes to produce medals for the Kingdom, including world No 89 Luksika Kumkhum, plus 2002 silver medalists Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana.

“The US Open is the last major of the year and main-draw players [normally in the top 100] don’t want to miss out on the chance to play,” Kitsombat said at a Meet The Press gathering at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Thursday.

“If that’s the case the Asian Games field shouldn’t be so tough,”.

LTAT also gave Luksika the green light to go to New York as she is guaranteed to be in the main draw and skipped the event last year in order to compete at the SEA Games in Malaysia.

According to Kitsombat, however, she chose to put her country first but could still play in New York.

“But she might be able to go to the US Open if she plays only the Asian Games singles, which should be over a day or two before the US Open. We will discuss this with the team later,” Kitsombat said.

Luksika won a silver medal in the singles and the gold medal with Tamarine Tanasugarn in the doubles while men’s duo  Sonchat and Sanchai won the bronze four years ago in South Korea.

“As this could be the twins’ farewell Asian Games, they will be more determined than ever to finish on a high note,” said the LTAT president.

Thanat Assavanapapas

Meanwhile Badminton Association of Thailand deputy-secretary general Thanat Assavanapapas said the women’s team was a key medal prospect for Thailand after they reached the Uber Cup final in Bangkok two months ago.

“The Asian Games badminton competition is similar to the World Championships as all the powerhouses of this sport are in this continent,” he said. “But due to the unexpected finals berth of the women’s team in the Uber Cup, they should be our highest hope in the Games.”

After a disappointing start, the 22-year-old Thai admits he must learn from his mistakes and regroup.

“I feel like I hit the ball pretty good and my putting wasn’t that bad but the score wasn’t what I expected. I had a disappointing finish today, dropping five shots in my last four holes. I got into trouble on the 16th, hitting my tee shot into the bunker and then lost my momentum there.

“I know it wasn’t going to be easy as it’s my first time playing in a Major championship. It was still a very good experience. I am still very excited and a little bit nervous. I got to play along former Open winner Mark (Cakcavecchia) so that was good too,” said Danthai.

Danthai was disappointed not to take advantage of the sun-baked day at the Carnoustie Golf Links and will look to bounce back after receiving support from his family and friends in Thailand.

“I will stick to the same game plan tomorrow and just have fun out there. I just want to enjoy the game and gain more experience out there. It wasn’t that windy actually. The weather and the playing conditions were pretty nice today. It’s a shame I didn’t take advantage of it.

“My good friends Natipong (Srithong) and Thitiphun (Chuayprakong) are all supporting me from back home and I really appreciate that. I will aim to do my best again tomorrow and we will see how it goes,” added the smiley Thai.

Japan’s Yuta Ikeda signed for a commendable 70 while South African Shaun Norris, who played alongside Danthai, returned with a 74.

Danthai, a one-time Asian Tour winner, earned a coveted spot in golf’s oldest Major championship after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open, which was part of The Open Qualifying Series.

He is representing Thailand alongside fellow debutant Jazz Janewattananond and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, highest-ranked Asian Tour member in 30th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

Kiradech, Asia’s number one in 2013, has never made the halfway cut in his last four appearances at The Open, which is also the only Major championship that he has yet to make it to the weekend rounds.

Placed 30th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Kiradech hopes to set the record straight when he plays alongside World number three Justin Rose and defending champion Jordan Spieth in the opening round on Thursday.

“I will try and play my best this week. If I can put up a good showing, it will be a perfect birthday gift for myself,” said Kiradech, who turns 29 on Monday. “I am playing with Rose and Spieth tomorrow. I want to make the Asians feel proud by playing well alongside them.”

The big-hitting Kiradech has enjoyed a superb season so far, claiming his third Asian Tour title and fourth European Tour victory at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February and taking home his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory in Brunei the following month.

Kiradech also came in tied-fifth at both the WGC-Mexico Championship and the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play in March. In his last Major appearance at the US Open in June, Kiradech enjoyed a 15th place finish, which matched his best ever result in a Major championship.

The popular Kiradech will spearhead the Thai challenge alongside debutants Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai Boonma at The 147th Open at Carnoustie.

“I am looking forward to this week. I will just stay focused and try to keep the ball in play. Carnoustie is one of the toughest courses for The Open. I have to make sure I missed at the right spots to give myself opportunities to get up and down and avoid the bunkers out there,” he said.

Kiradech sang high praises for compatriot Jazz, who recently claimed his second Asian Tour victory at the Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak on home soil by four shots.

“I played with Jazz yesterday and we enjoyed a good round. We’re sharing a house this week. Jazz is one of the up and coming golfers from Thailand and I think he has a bright future. This boy has the game and the skills to challenge at the highest level.

“I like the way he carries himself on the golf course. I feel like he has no fear at all, although he’s playing his first Major championship this week. I would love to see him play well. He just need to get used to the course, learn more about it and he will have a good chance,” he added.

Danthai, a one-time Asian Tour winner, is hoping to make it a week to remember when he tees off for his first Major championship this week.

“I am enjoying the experience so far. This is my first time in Scotland and also my first time playing on a links course. The course’s pretty intimidating with the strong winds and firm greens but I will focus on playing shot by shot and stick to my strategy,” said the 22-year-old Danthai.

Danthai, a double-gold medalist at the 2012 South East Asia (SEA) Games, earned his Asian Tour breakthrough at The World Golf Classic Championship in Singapore three years ago. He has also notched back-to-back top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour, two weeks prior to his Major debut.

“I’m very excited to play in my first Major this week. My parents are here in Scotland for the first time and they are enjoying themselves too. A lot of superstars are here. I would love to see Tiger Woods, for sure.

“I played my practice round with some top players like Louis Oosthuizen and Gary Woodland yesterday and it was a great experience. I learned a lot from them. I am not thinking much about the results. I just want to enjoy myself this week,” Danthai added.

Petch is one of the elite Thai fighters competing in GLOR, a kickboxing promotion company, and has a professional record of 159-36-2 (27 KOs).

A soldier in the Royal Thai Army, Petch is a former Muay Thai champion and has earned this title shot after an impressive second-round knock-out win over Abdellah Ezbiri in Lille, France in May.

Petch’s goal in New York will be to join fellow-Thai Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong as a GLORY lightweight champion. He is also dedicating the fight to the Wild Boars football team who were famously rescued after being trapped in a Chiang Rai cave more than two weeks.

“People think it takes a lot of courage to step in to the ring for a fight but it is nothing compared to what the 12 footballers, their coach and the Navy Seals and all the families involved have been through,” said Petchpanomrung.

“It is for me a true inspiration and it gives me strength and motivation to step into the ring for my country.”

Also in action on the same bill is Victor Pinto, who will be fighting against the American Nate Richardson.

Pinto is a French national who has made Thailand his home for almost of his life and who is one of the world’s elite Muay Thai fighters.

GLORY combines the best of all martial arts styles led by Muay Thai but also including karate, boxing, kung fu, capoeira and tae kwan do.

14 events are held around the world each year in 7 weight classes with a transparent world ranking system.

GLORY has several Thai fighters currently under contract, both male and female.

A replay of the Glory 55 event can be seen on PPTV (Channel 36) on Sunday at 10pm.

The 32-year-old American, a two-time major champion and eight-time LPGA winner, will be among 132 starters at Keene Trace Golf Club while most of the top men’s players compete in the British Open at Carnoustie.

“I’m really, really excited,” Lincicome said in a Tuesday essay on The Players Tribune website. “I’ll just be out here swinging for the fences and having the time of my life.”

Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to appear in a PGA event when she played the Colonial in 2003, missing the cut.

Michelle Wie later played in a handful of PGA events, never making the cut. Babe Zaharias and Suzy Whaley also competed in PGA tournaments.

“All the girls in the locker room thought it was awesome,” Lincicome told reporters Tuesday. “That was really cool. They have been really supportive.”

While her nerves were tested being in contention last week, Lincicome expects she will be nervous at the start — “I’m sure the first three or four holes I will be.”

Lincicome wrote in her essay she pondered accepting the offer to play on a sponsor’s exemption for days because she worried “about how this whole thing might backfire or cause some people to lash out toward me.”

“I’m not trying to compare myself to the guys. I’m not trying to compare our games. I just want to go out and have a good time,” Lincicome said. “It will be like playing in a major, but with the guys. I just want to have fun.”

Lincicome recalled playing on a high school boys golf team, rivals unhappy to risk losing to a girl.

“I was never someone those guys were happy to see,” she wrote. “But you know what? I soldiered on. I didn’t let that stop me. I loved competing against the guys. It allowed me to improve more rapidly because I needed to work hard to keep up.

“The decision to ignore any outside distractions and just go play golf seems to have worked out OK for me after all.”

– Nary a discouraging word –

Thinking of today’s young female golfers ensured Lincicome would take the PGA opportunity.

“The more I thought about whether to play in this event, the more I kept coming back to all the younger girls who I might be able to connect with and inspire by doing this,” she wrote.

“I thought about how an opportunity like this might be able to make a difference in how people think about our sport in the future. I truly believe if you’re a girl and you’re good, you should practice, play and compete with the guys as much as you can.”

And Lincicome hasn’t heard any negative words about her playing against men.

“It has been wonderful. In every way it has been like a dream,” she wrote. “No one has been a jerk to me about my decision. Not one person has been nasty or sexist or anything. No one has cursed me out or told me to stick to the women’s game.

“Maybe by the time those girls are my age, there will be lots more opportunities for PGA and LPGA pros to compete and play against each other.”

An army of labourers has been toiling around the clock to finish building work, widen roads and plant trees in a breakneck bid to beautify Jakarta, a teeming metropolis that many visitors find tough to love.

The athletes’ village looks ready, but some competitors may need nose pegs — it backs out onto a toxic, foul-smelling river.

Jakarta and Palembang in Sumatra are set to host about 11,000 athletes and 5,000 officials from 45 Asian countries for the August 18 to September 2 Games, the world’s biggest multi-sport event behind the Olympics.

Apart from a still-unfinished squash complex, most venues appear nearly done.

The Gelora Bung Karno main stadium, used when Indonesia last hosted the Games in 1962, has undergone a major renovation for the 30 trillion rupiah ($2 billion) event.

“I think all the venues, from what I see… 95 percent should be finished by end of July,” chief organiser Erick Thohir, a media tycoon who is chairman of football club Inter Milan, said last week.

Epic traffic jams

Indonesia started with less time than most countries. It agreed to host the Games when Vietnam pulled out, citing concerns over preparations and the heavy financial burden.

And then Jakarta moved the Games forward by a year to 2018 to avoid a clash with national elections.

But organisers insist it won’t be a repeat of the 2004 Athens Olympics when the main stadium was completed just weeks before the opening ceremony, or Brazil’s 2014 World Cup which went ahead in unfinished venues.

The worst-case scenario remains New Delhi’s 2010 Commonwealth Games, where problems ranged from filthy conditions at the athletes’ village to collapsing infrastructure.

Indonesia had problems with the 2011 Southeast Asian Games following corruption scandals and a deadly stampede at the football final.

But the biggest headache at the Asian Games may be getting athletes to venues on time.

Jakarta has some of the world’s worst traffic, forcing organisers to come up with drastic solutions.

Athletes and officials will travel on dedicated road lanes while Jakarta has put an odd-even licence plate system in place to limit congestion.

Schools will also be closed to take the daily commute of millions of pupils out of the equation.

– Security fears –

Security is another concern with the Games coming just a few months after terror attacks in Indonesia’s second-biggest city Surabaya killed a dozen people and reignited concerns about Islamist militants.

Some 100,000 security staff will be deployed in Jakarta, Palembang and West Java, where several events are taking place.

“All safety elements are already in place,” said national deputy police chief Syafruddin, who goes by one name.

“We did not only think about security of the athletes, but we are also preparing safety measures for all aspects related to the games… of course the main priority is security.”

Police say they have been rounding up terror suspects and petty street criminals in a pre-Games crackdown — and even fatally shooting some who resisted arrest.

Many Jakartans seem unaware that their city is hosting a major event though, with promotion of the Games noticeably lacking.

“What is it (the Asian Games)? I’m not too sure,” said Jakarta-based entrepreneur Widi Astari.

Some who do know about the Games have complained about ticket prices, which range from about 50,000-300,000 rupiah ($3.5-$21) in a country where many live on a few dollars a day.

“I think it will be great if the organiser provides tickets for the middle-lower class spectators because I think everybody wants to watch,” said Ari Fajar.

About one quarter of the 40,000 tickets available for the opening ceremonies — the cheapest are 750,000 rupiah — were snapped up in first week of sale on June 30.

While the Games may not be picture perfect, Jakartan Nia is betting that her country won’t embarrass itself.

“At least the outside world will know Indonesia has tried its best,” she said.

The 24-year-old and a swathe of his fellow young Americans threatening to dominate the future of the sport will also have a returning Tiger Woods.

The man who dominated the past until personal and physical problems intervened to bring that to a juddering halt is back at the Open for the first time since he missed the cut in 2015.

Spieth has not won since his Open success last July but he believes his game is back in place for the rigours of Carnoustie when battle commences on Thursday, having taken some time out to relax.

“I had the itch to get back to it after a couple of weeks of not really working and it was nice to kind of start from scratch,” Spieth said at a press conference on Monday.

“I feel like I’m in a position now with every part of my game, I attacked the places that really needed some strong work.

“That combination with an Open Championship, the way it needs to be played, I think, is a really good spot for me to kickback into shape.”

Fellow young Turks such as PGA Champion Justin Thomas, Masters champion Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka, who defended his US Open title last month, will be fancying their chances.

Compatriot Rickie Fowler could take issue with being left out of their club given he is also under 30 at 29 — the only problem being he has developed a reputation for filling the minor places in the majors.

The return of Woods, who inspired many of the 20-something Americans to take up the sport, will be intriguing to see if the sea air awakens the genius in him.

He says he has a special affinity with the challenge of playing links golf and believes if he is to add to his 14 majors it is probably going to be The Open as it suits ageing players — Tom Watson and Greg Norman both came close when in their 50’s.

“As far as long-term certainly I would say ‘Yes’ because of the fact you don’t have to be long to play on a links-style golf course,” said Woods, whose last of three Open titles came in 2006.

“You get to places like Augusta (The Masters) where it is just a big ball park and the golf course outgrows you unfortunately. A links-style golf course you can just roll the ball,” added the 42-year-old.

– ‘I don’t believe in superstition’ –

In a Ryder Cup year the European challenge looks weak by comparison in the only major played outside the United States.

The likes of Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, the in form Italian Francesco Molinari and perhaps a dark horse in Sweden’s Alex Noren, who won the French Open on the course where this year’s Ryder Cup will be contested, look the likeliest to be contenders.

McIlroy for one will be desperate to end four years without a major and disprove those who think even at just 29 the wow factor of earlier years has lost its sheen.

“I’ll just treat it like any other event,” McIlroy told Golf World.

“Prepare the way I normally do and go out and play and see what happens. I’m not putting any pressure on myself.

“My record in the Open Championship’s been pretty good the last few years,” added McIlroy, who first showed what a talent he was as an amateur in the 2008 Open.

Rose — whose best result remains tied for fourth when a callow 17-year-old amateur in 1998 — believes he can become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 1992 to lift the Claret Jug.

“Yes,” said the 37-year-old as to whether he could win.

“Obviously, it has been a barren run for sure. I don’t believe in superstition or anything like that, but I just feel like my game is in a good spot.”

When Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia in a play-off to win The Open at Carnoustie in 2007, a 10-year-old Jazz, who was in Scotland for The Junior Open then, caught the action live with his father from the grandstand seats.

11 years on, Jazz returned to Carnoustie for his first attempt at golf’s oldest Major championship. The 22-year-old Jazz had earned the coveted spot after finishing tied-fourth at the season-opening Singapore Open in January.

“It’s great to be back in Carnoustie. My dad brought me here to watch Tiger Woods play The Open in 2007. We were amongst the spectators here when Padraig Harrington defeated Sergio Garcia to win that year.

“My dad plays an important role in my career. He was the one who brought me into the game when I was young. It’s great to be back here with him and to have him watch me play in my first ever Major championship,” said Jazz, a two-time Asian Tour winner.

Jazz first played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour in 2010 when he became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at the 2010 Asian Tour International in Bangkok at the age of 14 years and 71 days.

Three weeks prior to his Major debut, Jazz clinched a sensational second victory at the Queen’s Cup on home soil where he triumphed by four shots after firing five straight birdies from the 10th for a closing 67.

The talented Thai went on to claim a joint runner-up finish at the Sarawak Championship in Malaysia the following week, thanks to a superb final round of a 64.

“After Sarawak, I took a few days off before coming here to practise. The weather was still pretty warm the last few days but it is getting colder now. The golf course is looking good. It’s amazing to be able to play in such a big event. The course set-up is great.

“The greens are firm and fast. It’s going to play tough. It’s been very overwhelming for me so far, playing in the first Major in my career this week. There are grand stands everywhere. I’m nervous yet excited at the same time,” Jazz added.

Jazz’s breakthrough on the Asian Tour came at the 2017 Bangladesh Open. The victory was especially sweet for him as he finished outside the top-60 on the 2016 Order of Merit and missed the grade at the 2017 Qualifying School.

Jazz will represent Thailand in the year’s third Major championship alongside fellow debutant Danthai Boonma and 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who sits in 30th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as the highest-ranked Thai player in the world.

Reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia will also feature in The 147th Open at Carnoustie alongside India’s Anirban Lahiri, England’s Matt Wallace, South African Shaun Norris and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, all winners on the Asian Tour.