All eyes will be on Malmo this weekend, as some of the most well-known and skillful performers in Esports compete for a trophy that redefines the phrase ‘show-stopper’.
The fact that the final hasn’t taken place in an arena in front of a crowd since 2019 – when G2 ESports got the upper hand over Fnatic in the Greek capital Athens – makes this one of the most keenly contested and anticipated LEC events in years.
And that excitement spreads well beyond Swedish borders, not least here at Thomas Lyte, as we once again look forward to seeing one of our most iconic trophies handed to the winner.
As well as an in-stadium crowd of 15,500 at the home of the Malmo Redhawks ice hockey team, millions will tune in on platforms such as Twitch to watch an Esports event like no other. In 2019, for example, the peak viewing audience for the event was a staggering 820,000. Some individual matches have drawn unique viewing figures as high as 1.7m on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. Those mind-blowing figures are an indication of the kind of draw this event has, and an illustration of just how popular Esports are, not just with those who play them at the very highest level, but those who want to see how the best in the business go about proving they’re exactly that.
For the players themselves, the finals offer a chance to lift one of the world’s most instantly recognisable trophies – and a piece of silverware which is more than a one-man job to lift. Which is lucky, because no-one will win this prize without having worked tirelessly as a team.
First played for in 2019, the LEC was one of a series of trophies introduced in collaboration between Thomas Lyte and Riot Games – a suite which includes the Summoner’s Cup, the trophy that’s lifted by the League of Legends’ World Champions.
The LEC crown itself is an extraordinary testament to both the appeal of Esports and also the skills of the silversmiths who worked tirelessly to produce it. In every sense, it’s a hugely symbolic piece of silverware and one which, in a short period of time, has established itself as one of the most highly prized across all Esports.
Each of the teams who will be competing in Scandinavia over the coming days, will know that they’re represented by the stunning ten columns that make this trophy so distinctive. They’ll also know that, come Sunday, only one of the them will have the heavy-duty honour of hoisting it aloft, with the ten columns cascading in spiraling motion until one – the winners – reaches the top.
At one metre in height and made from copper, bronze, and sterling silver, the trophy is a monument of modern design and production – and one which is very much a reflection of the diversity personified on the stage in Malmo.
The outcome of the on-stage contest in an Esport as unpredictable and gripping as League of Legends is perpetually uncertain. But one thing is absolutely clear – this contest will offer another window into the genre’s future, with the game and the tournament itself having grown exponentially in popularity since it was first introduced to a European and global audience back in 2013.
There’s plenty for fans of the game to get their teeth into year-on-year, with two nine-week round-robin seasons – in spring and summer – separating the best from the rest. A six-team play-off then finally decides which of the three teams will go on to compete for the trophy.
The road is long. But when Thomas Lyte’s trophy is presented to the victors, the wait is always worth it.
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