Fans react to ugly VCT EMEA Stage 2 trophy reveal

Valorant players have expressed their disappointment with the unveiling of the “unattractive”Stage 2 trophy during the opening ceremony of VCT EMEA on July 20.

The remaining three regions had already unveiled their VCT Stage 2 trophies during the playoffs. China and the Pacific showcased sleek trophies with their logos displayed on top, while the Americas chose a unique tornado-inspired design.

Last split, VCT EMEA chose to keep the trophy design simple, featuring only the region’s “X”logo. However, for this split, they have opted for a stitched appearance, which has received significant backlash from fans.

One X commenter questioned, “Was this trophy even put together properly?”They continued, “It honestly resembles a poorly made 3D model trophy.”

Likewise, several individuals made similar remarks about the appearance of the trophy, noting that it appeared to have been created using 3D printing technology or even crafted from “Play-Doh,”as described by one person.

These are the trophies for all the Valorant 2024 VCTs. Any thoughts? 🤔 #VCTEMEA #VCTAmericas #VCTCN #VCTPacific pic.twitter.com/0btJZjX76p

— Lembo (@Lembo006) July 20, 2024

Each individual region is accountable for producing its own trophies, providing league organizers with the opportunity to exercise their creative freedom in designing something that would instill a sense of pride in competing players. Nonetheless, some fans believe that this original intention may have been misinterpreted or overlooked.

“As a fan, I would prefer not to win at this point if my team is one of the contenders.”

Between the solid version of the VCT EMEA logo, which was the last trophy, and the current trophy with extra stitching, fans are convinced that Riot Games has a bias against the region. This perception stems from the belief that each trophy is becoming increasingly unattractive with every new iteration.

“Another commenter, after being translated, stated that they were not trying to be offensive but asked if there was a competition in EMEA to make the trophy even more unattractive than in previous years. They speculated that Riot may have some sort of animosity towards EMEA, as they couldn’t think of any other explanation.”

Despite its appeal, the importance of the VCT EMEA Stage 2 trophy remains unchanged. Both Team Vitality and Fnatic are competing for the opportunity to include it in their respective collections.

Vitality would secure their first trophy in VCT EMEA if they win, while Fnatic hopes to join the exclusive group of teams who have won consecutive stages before Champions.