Valve Gives rain a CS2 Major Finalist Trophy — He Asks to Hand It to Twistzz Instead

FaZe Clan veteran Håvard “rain” Nygaard has revealed that Valve awarded him an in-game CS2 Major finalist trophy for the StarLadder Budapest Major, despite the Norwegian not playing a single match at the tournament. The situation quickly sparked discussion in the Counter-Strike community about Major roster rules, substitutes, and in-game item distribution.

rain calls out Valve: “Give it to Twistzz”

Rain addressed the issue publicly on social media, tagging Valve and asking the developers to correct what he described as a mistake. According to rain, the trophy should belong to Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, who actually played for FaZe during their run to the Major grand final.

His message was brief but clear: the wrong player received the reward, and Valve should “make it right.”

Why rain received the trophy despite not playing

The situation appears to be the result of Valve’s Major eligibility system, which is based on registered starting rosters rather than actual match participation.

At the time of the Budapest Major roster lock:

• rain was listed as part of FaZe’s core five

• Twistzz joined as a stand-in/substitute after the initial registration

Under Valve’s current rules, only registered starters are eligible for certain in-game Major items, including:

• autograph stickers

• Major trophies and medals

As a result, rain automatically received the finalist trophy, while Twistzz — despite playing on stage — did not.

FaZe’s Budapest Major run

FaZe Clan reached the grand final of the StarLadder Budapest Major, ultimately finishing second. Twistzz played a key role in the team’s playoff run, making the situation especially controversial among fans who believe Major rewards should reflect who actually competed.

Not an isolated case: other players speak out

FaZe are not the only team affected. Similar complaints surfaced immediately after Budapest:

• The MongolZ situation: player Senzu stated that Valve awarded him a trophy that should have gone to stand-in controlez

• Multiple players across teams said it felt “wrong” to receive Major items they didn’t earn in matches

These cases highlight a broader issue with CS2 Major substitute recognition.

Ongoing Budapest Major sticker controversy

The trophy issue comes amid wider criticism of Valve’s handling of Major items. Several professional players also reported that Valve:

• rejected newly submitted autograph designs

• reused old signatures without allowing revisions

Well-known pros publicly voiced frustration, claiming they were denied a chance to update or fix their stickers for the Budapest Major.

Will Valve change the rules?

As of now, Valve has not issued a public response regarding:

• reassignment of finalist trophies

• eligibility changes for stand-ins

• updates to Major item distribution rules

Historically, Valve has followed strict roster registration logic, even when it conflicts with actual tournament participation.

Community reaction

The Counter-Strike community widely praised rain for calling attention to the issue and supporting his teammate. Many fans argue that Major trophies, stickers, and medals should be awarded based on who plays — not paperwork.

Until Valve updates the system, situations like this may continue to happen at future CS2 Majors.