According to an anonymous source close to T1, teams in the League of Legends Champions Korea are pushing for the league to implement a salary cap in 2022. T1 stands as the “strongest opposing voice” to the proposed new rule.
Currently, individual LCK player salary information is not publicly available. A salary cap on the league would place limitations on how much any given player signed to an organization would be able to earn in their contract or agreement under that team’s banner. No specified amount was given for the potential salary cap.Â
In 2019, Inven Global reported that a survey conducted, with 82 LCK players, showed the average player salary in the LCK to be approximately 170 million Korean won in 2018. In today’s U.S. dollars, this would be around $146,000. According to the survey, more than half of players’ salaries were under $86,000. And 37.2% of players were making between $17,000 and $43,000, and 26.5% of players made between $43,000 and $86,000.
In 2020, Win reported that China’s League of Legends Pro League will gradually introduce a salary cap of 10 million Chinese yuan, or approximately $1.6 million in today’s U.S. dollars. It’s uncertain when this rule will begin to affect LPL teams. Many traditional sports leagues — such as the NFL, NBA and NHL — have implemented salary cap rules as early as 1984.
After winning the 2020 World Championship, the LCK is on track to repeat its success with three regional representatives remaining at the tournament. This is the most out of any participating region. On Oct. 25, Gen.G Esports defeated Cloud9 in the quarterfinals and they will advance to play the LPL’s Edward Gaming in the semifinals on Sunday, Oct. 31 at approx. 8 a.m. EST. T1 are currently competing in the 2021 League of Legends World Championship as the third seed from the LCK. After taking the top spot in Group B and defeating Hanwha Life Esports in the quarterfinals on Oct. 22, they’ll face DWG KIA in the semifinals on Oct. 30 at approx. 8 a.m. EST.
