For the past year, college students and esports players from Texas A&M University and St. Louis University have been juggling school work and video games with a singular goal in mind: to take home the championship trophy. On June 9, five Texas A&M Valorant players hoisted a stunning trophy made of glittering red shards after winning the College Valorant Championship; the day prior, St. Louis University League of Legends players lifted their own trophy, a striking red gem surrounded by polished silver after winning the College League of Legends Championship.
After their respective wins, both the League of Legends and Valorant collegiate champions were informed the trophies weren’t theirs after all. If they wanted one of their own, they’d have to pay up. The price? Each respective trophy would cost around $10,000. For the League of Legends players at St. Louis University, that’s one fifth of the $50,000 in prize winnings they were awarded. But for the Valorant players at Texas A&M, it’s double their $5,000 prize. Since then, the teams have tried to appeal to Riot Games and its external partners for assistance, but several community members are also trying to help: JT Vandenbree, who led Riot’s collegiate esports program until he was laid off in January, started a GoFundMe to raise money for trophies. So far, it’s raised almost $2,000 of its $20,000 goal.
“When I learned that the teams would have to pay for the trophy, especially knowing TAMU is a club team without institutional support, I was heartbroken,” Vandenbree told Polygon. “Without the means to do anything within Riot, I figured I could do the next best thing and see if there was another way to get the students their trophies.”
Not having a trophy to commemorate a win doesn’t take away from the students’ achievement, but it is a major disappointment for the players and staff that support the teams. Pierce Ray, president of the Texas A&M esports club, told Polygon that the win is huge for these players, who’ve dedicated major parts of their lives to esports, and to the university. “These players have put hours of practice in and they came out on top, but now they are blocked by a paywall,” he said. “I think it’s unacceptable.”
Both teams have been without a trophy now for more than a month with no resolution. Vandenbree said Riot Games simply doesn’t have a team supporting scholastic esports anymore; everyone was laid off or reassigned. Even before the layoff, Riot esports employees wanted to ensure that the esports program would thrive under GGTech, the third partner organizer. That included employees’ push for the first college championship to allow winners to take home their trophies, gorgeous creations from Volpin Props, a manufacturer that specializes in video game props and esports trophies.
Neither Riot Games nor its tournament partner, GGTech, has responded to Polygon’s request for comment.
“What I love about scholastic esports compared to the pros is the fact that it’s about the big picture. It’s grounded in community, competition, and setting up students for lifelong success,” Vandenbree said. “The trophies are a symbol of the students’ hard work, a permanent representation of their success to their school and community, and an aspiration to everybody who wants their shot next year.”
He continued: “They have the rest of their lives to be disappointed adults — I don’t want them to start here.”
