In a significant development for the esports scene, NRG Esports has marked its return to the competitive Counter-Strike arena with the announcement of their new roster for CS2. The revelation came through a video featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, setting the stage for the organization's comeback in the North American region.
Rumors had been circulating about NRG's potential re-entry into the competitive Counter-Strike (CS) circuit, which were confirmed by Miller during his appearance on the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast. This move comes as part of NRG's strategic plan to re-establish its presence in the North American esports landscape.
NRG's New Roster
Leading the charge for NRG is Damian Steele, known in the gaming community as Daps. At 30, Daps is a seasoned veteran of the CS scene, bringing a depth of experience from his achievements and recent coaching tenure at Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. His history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, before he left just ahead of the team's previous CS:GO roster being sold off.
Accompanying Daps is Vincent Cayonte, better known as Brehze, who transitions from Evil Geniuses back to NRG. Brehze, 25, previously played with Daps on NRG's roster before its sale. After spending four years with Evil Geniuses, Brehze's return to NRG follows what was considered a lackluster year for his former team in 2023.
Josh Ohm, who goes by the gamer tag oSee, has also been signed onto the NRG roster. His addition follows a benching spell from Team Liquid, which is currently undergoing a major overhaul, paring down its CS2 team to just two players. oSee's transition to NRG offers him a fresh start amidst these changes.
The lineup is bolstered further by Jadan Postma, or HexT, who recently parted ways with Evil Geniuses after an 18-month stint. His departure on November 28 paved the way for his new chapter with NRG.
Lastly, Justin Coakley, also known as FaNg, joins the team following a period of inactivity after being benched by Complexity. FaNg's move was precipitated by the organization's decision to accommodate Jonathan Jablonowski, leading FaNg to seek opportunities elsewhere, ultimately landing with NRG.
NRG Esports' Competitive Legacy
NRG Esports, established in late 2015, quickly gained traction in the esports world by acquiring a CS:GO squad that catalyzed the organization's growth and popularity. The original team featured notable players including Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney.
The period between 2018 and 2019 marked a golden era for NRG's CS:GO team, boasting a star-studded lineup with Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov. Under the guidance of coaches like Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh, the team solidified its status as a top contender in the region.
Among their accolades, NRG secured a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major and celebrated victories at prestigious events such as the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8, under the banner of Evil Geniuses following their acquisition of NRG's roster.
Despite these successes, NRG stepped away from the CS competitive scene in September 2019, selling its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a sum reportedly around $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
NRG's resurgence comes at a pivotal moment, as the North American CS ecosystem is experiencing considerable shifts. With Team Liquid's surprising relocation from NA to EU and rumors of Evil Geniuses potentially exiting esports, the field is left with only a handful of major NA organizations, adding to the significance of NRG's re-entry.
This strategic maneuver by NRG not only signifies a renewed commitment to Counter-Strike but also injects excitement into the North American competitive scene, promising an intriguing future for fans and players alike as the organization embarks on its next chapter in esports history.