In a move that has reignited the competitive spirit within the North American Counter Strike community, NRG Esports has officially announced their re-entry into the scene with a new roster for CS2. The reveal came through a video announcement featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, confirming the swirling rumors about NRG's comeback which had been a hot topic of discussion earlier in the month.
During an episode of the League of Legends podcast "The Crossover," Miller shared the organization's plans to compete in the North American region, ending speculation and setting the stage for NRG's renewed presence in the esports arena.
A Veteran-Led Roster
The team is set to be led by seasoned player Damian Steele, known in the gaming world as Daps. At 30, Daps is no stranger to the high stakes of competitive gaming, bringing to the table a storied history of achievements, including a coaching stint for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. His association with NRG isn't new either; he played for the team from 2018 to 2019 before leaving just ahead of the sale of NRG's former CS:GO roster.
Reuniting with Daps is Vincent Cayonte, better known as Brehze, who makes his return to NRG after a four-year tenure with Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old previously competed alongside Daps in NRG, and his return marks a full-circle moment following what was considered a lackluster year for Evil Geniuses in 2023.
The roster also welcomes Josh Ohm, or oSee, freshly benched from Liquid amid a significant restructuring of their CS2 team. With Liquid downsizing to just two players, oSee was compelled to find a new team, ultimately landing with NRG.
Jadan Postma, also known as HexT, strengthens the lineup further. He joined the team after parting ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28, concluding an 18-month run with the organization.
Rounding out the roster is Justin Coakley, known in the gaming community as FaNg. After several months on the bench due to his former organization Complexity recruiting Jonathan Jablonowski, FaNg departed to make way for the new addition and has now found his place with NRG.
NRG Esports' Legacy in CS
Since its inception in late 2015, NRG Esports has been a prominent force in the North American esports landscape. Their initial foray into Counter Strike saw them signing the former Method squad, consisting of Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney. This move helped catapult the organization to early fame and popularity.
The peak of NRG's success in the CS:GO sphere came between 2018 and 2019 when they fielded an all-star lineup that included Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov. Under the guidance of coaches Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh, the team solidified its reputation as one of the best in the region, culminating in a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Post-acquisition by Evil Geniuses, this roster continued to excel, securing victories at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, September 2019 marked a significant shift as NRG withdrew from competitive CS, selling its then globally fourth-ranked roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
The landscape of North American Counter Strike has seen considerable shifts since NRG's departure, with Team Liquid recently moving from NA to EU and rumors circulating about a potential exit from esports by Evil Geniuses. These changes leave only a handful of major organizations in the NA region, making NRG's return both timely and significant for the local competitive scene.
With such an experienced and skilled roster, NRG's re-entry into competitive Counter Strike is poised to shake up the North American rankings and inject fresh excitement into the region's tournaments and leagues. Fans and competitors alike will undoubtedly be watching closely as NRG looks to reclaim its position as a leading force in the world of esports.