Look Sports Media – The Valorant Champions Tour EMEA Stage 1, after a week-long hiatus caused by significant technical issues and player outcry, is set to resume this Friday, May 2nd, at 5 PM CEST/4 PM BST. The highly anticipated return will pick up where it left off, with the unfinished Team Liquid vs. Karmine Corp series and the crucial Fnatic vs. Team Heretics matchup.
Riot Games, following a torrent of criticism from players like Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev, who publicly voiced their frustrations over outdated equipment and persistent server instability, has undertaken a significant hardware upgrade at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin. Over the past 48 hours, rigorous playtests involving both internal teams and professional Valorant players across various maps were conducted. While Riot claims substantial performance improvements, they acknowledge some lingering minor issues, promising continued investigation.
The resumption isn’t without changes. The map veto process for the Liquid vs. Karmine Corp match has been completely overhauled. With Split already played, both teams will re-select the remaining maps to ensure a fair and balanced restart, eliminating any potential strategic advantage gained from prior knowledge. The matches will be streamed online, with no live audience present at the Berlin arena.
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The controversy surrounding the event highlighted long-standing concerns regarding equipment quality and player welfare. Derke’s vocal criticism, echoing sentiments from retired pro Tyson "TenZ" Ngo and Gentle Mates’ Thomas "kAdavra" Johner, underscored the need for improved infrastructure and a more responsive approach from Riot. Daniel Ringland, Riot’s head of Valorant Esports, EMEA, issued a public apology, acknowledging the shortcomings and outlining plans for future upgrades and the formation of a Player Council to address such issues proactively. Riot has also announced compensation for affected fans who travelled to Berlin for the postponed matches. The return of VCT EMEA Stage 1 marks not only a resumption of competition but also a pivotal moment in the ongoing dialogue between Riot and the professional Valorant community.
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