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Riot Games has announced it’s increased the prize pool of The Gathering LAN event in Norway, and will host a Riot Games booth across all four days of the event.
Riot has committed to raising the prize pool for The Gathering’s Valorant tournament by 25,000 kroner to a total of 100,000 kroner (around £7,300).
This means that the first place prize will become 65,000 NOK, up from 50,000 NOK previously. The second and third place prizes have also each been increased by 5,000 kroner, making them 25,000 NOK and 10,000 NOK respectively.
The tournament is due to take place from April 16th to 20th 2025 at the Vikingskipet venue in Hamar, Norway.
This ‘marks the first step in a wider initiative to level up the Nordic grassroots esports scene’, according to a press release from Riot Games.
“This increased investment in The Gathering signals the beginning of a region-wide commitment to supporting grassroots esports across the Nordics,” according to the press release. “Creators and representatives from Riot Games will also be in attendance at the event to meet players and provide engaging IRL experiences for fans.
“Whether you’re attending with your lifelong duo or a freshly formed five-stack, Riot Games is creating opportunities for players to connect, compete, and celebrate their love for Valorant.”
Across all four days, Riot Games will be on-site offering a range of interactive activities, tournaments, and community-focused events:
- Daily competitions – Deathmatch and Escalation tournaments with exclusive prizes
- Valorant quiz – Test your knowledge on the main stage
- Community experiences – Take part in the Defuse the Spike challenge, snap photos at the custom Valorant photo wall, and meet popular Valorant creators
The activities continue what Riot has been doing a little more of in recent years at the grassroots level, with Riot LoL and Valorant activities at one of the final Insomnia Gaming Festivals and a League of Legends quiz at the recent NLC/LEC finals watch party in Nottingham.
Markus Gür, Riot Games Brand Management Supervisor for the Nordics, said:
“The Nordic gaming community is one of the most passionate and dedicated in the world, and we’re thrilled to deepen our investment in grassroots esports with The Gathering.”
Markus Gür, Riot Games
“By increasing the Valorant tournament prize pool and bringing unique on-site experiences for players and fans, we’re reinforcing our commitment to creating opportunities for competition, connection, and celebration.
“This is just the beginning of our broader vision for supporting Nordic esports, and we can’t wait to see the community come together at The Gathering.”
Henriette Olsen, Head of Esports for The Gathering, commented: “For decades, The Gathering has been a hub for gaming enthusiasts, fostering competition, creativity, and community.
“Riot Games’ support for the Nordic esports scene is a major step in strengthening grassroots competition. The increased Valorant prize pool and on-site activities will elevate the experience for both players and fans.
“With Riot Games on board, this year’s event will offer more esports opportunities while staying true to the community-driven spirit of The Gathering.”
What else is happening at The Gathering 2025 LAN event in Norway?
As well as the Valorant tournament, The Gathering LAN will also feature esports tournaments in League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Rocket League and Trackmania.
Nordic Competitive Leagues (NCL) is also hosting three Call of Duty tournaments at the event: one in Warzone, one in Hardcore Search & Destroy and one in a Call of Duty League format. This will run from April 17th to 19th.
First place in Hardcore wins LAN passes for next year, while Warzone and CDL winners will get merch packages from The Gathering.
As mentioned, The Gathering event runs in full from April 16th to 20th 2025 at the Vikingskipet venue in Hamar, Norway.
There’s more info on the esports tournaments and sign up info on The Gathering website.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
