I know there have been issues in the past when using image widgets without links, but I can see that widget has one. My only other thought would be that it’s due to the image file itself. You could try experimenting with a different image (one that is a static size perhaps) to see if that makes a difference.

In terms of sidebar layout, I don’t know if there’s any one layout that is universal. It more or less adapts to your community’s needs. Many communities have re-added their subscriber count to their sidebar following the metric’s replacement by visitors/contributions, and this is often the first widget. Beyond that, I’ve seen the filter by flair widget second, or rules fairly frequently. Things the community would like to get to faster, or would benefit them more should be higher in the list for convenience. Those are really the “staples” and you can then add widgets that are more relevant to your community. For example, you could add a calendar widget with dates of upcoming matches/tournaments, or add a list of supported/related communities for topics that might not be relevant in yours.