Valve Corporation has made a significant policy change regarding how Major tournament trophies are distributed in Counter-Strike 2. Falcons' in-game leader Finn "karrigan" Andersen has been awarded the digital trophy for winning the IEM Cologne Major, marking a departure from the company's traditional stance.
Previously, Valve's policy dictated that substitute players would not receive in-game trophies. Instead, these digital accolades went to the original roster member whom the substitute replaced. This new approach represents a complete reversal of that long-standing practice.
Karrigan joined the Falcons lineup as a substitute for Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski, who now plays for Aurora. While officially listed as a stand-in for the Major, it was widely understood that the Danish veteran would assume the role permanently once the tournament concluded.
The policy shift wasn't limited to karrigan alone. Timur "FL4MUS" Marev also benefited from the change, receiving BetBoom's quarterfinal trophy instead of Pavel "S1ren" Ogloblin, whom he replaced.
Despite these changes, Valve maintained consistency in one area: kyxsan still received player stickers for the Major, including the prestigious champion sticker. The Macedonian player is also expected to retain his share of revenue from sticker sales, ensuring he benefits financially from the team's championship run even though he didn't compete.
