Incident at StarLadder Major with Protest Against Valve
During the match between “Imperial” and “Rare Atom” at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, six individuals walked onto the MTK Sportpark stage in Budapest holding signs reading “Fuck Valve” alongside the Imperial logo.
Incident Details
The protesters wore Gamdom T-shirts, the title sponsor of the Brazilian team. The “CS2 News” account on X reported that Gamdom was behind the stunt. However, product owner Felix denied any involvement and called the incident sabotage by competitors.
He offered $2,500 for information on each participant and threatened the organizers of the stunt with legal action. Shortly after, security escorted the protesters off the stage and out of the venue.
Incident Components
- Signs: “Fuck Valve” and the Imperial team logo
- Clothing: Gamdom-branded T-shirts
- Gamdom’s position: denial of involvement
- Actions by Gamdom’s owner: reward announcements, threat of legal action
Reasons Behind the Conflict
The protest is linked to a recent situation involving the Imperial roster. In August, the team signed a partnership with Gamdom and replaced their team logo with the casino’s branding. Valve released tournament stickers featuring the new logo but later, under community pressure, reverted to the previous version.
Community Reaction and Background
The motivation behind the protest is attributed to frustration from part of the audience regarding gambling-related branding on esports stickers. The situation mirrors a similar incident earlier in the year.
Similar Incidents
A comparable case occurred at PGL Copenhagen Major 2024, when individuals wearing CSGOEmpire shirts stormed the stage during a match.
The series of protests highlights ongoing tension between fans, tournament organizers, and gambling brands that maintain an active presence in the esports scene.