In a significant development for the esports community, NRG Esports has marked its return to competitive Counter-Strike, specifically in the newly minted CS2 scene. The announcement, which was delivered through a video featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, introduced a new North American roster with some familiar faces making a comeback.
Anticipation had been building around NRG's potential re-entry into the competitive Counter-Strike sphere, with rumors reaching a fever pitch earlier this month. These speculations were put to rest when Miller confirmed the organization's intentions during an appearance on the "The Crossover," a podcast dedicated to League of Legends. NRG's commitment to competing within the North American region was made clear, signaling a new chapter for the team.
A Veteran Leader
The new roster will be helmed by seasoned professional Damian Steele, better known in the gaming community as Daps. At 30 years old, Daps is no stranger to the esports arena, having amassed a series of achievements throughout his career. His most recent stint was as a coach for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. Daps' history with NRG dates back to his tenure from 2018 to 2019, which he concluded just before the organization's former CS:GO roster was sold.
Familiar Faces
Daps is joined by Vincent Cayonte, who operates under the moniker Brehze. Previously a part of Evil Geniuses, the 25-year-old Brehze is reuniting with Daps after their initial run together on NRG's roster. Following a four-year period with Evil Geniuses that ended on a disappointing note in 2023, Brehze has returned to NRG seeking to recapture past glories.
Another noteworthy addition to the team is Josh Ohm, also known as oSee. After being benched earlier in the month, oSee has transferred from Team Liquid, which has recently undergone a dramatic restructuring process. With Liquid reducing their CS2 team to a mere two players, oSee found himself in need of a new home, a need that NRG was ready to fill.
Jadan Postma, or HexT, fortifies the lineup following his departure from Evil Geniuses on November 28. His nearly one-and-a-half-year tenure with the organization has set the stage for what many hope will be a fruitful journey with NRG.
The roster is rounded out by Justin Coakley, known in gaming circles as FaNg. After several months in limbo due to being benched, FaNg left Complexity to make way for Jonathan Jablonowski, a new addition to the team. This move ultimately led him to join forces with NRG.
NRG's Competitive Legacy
Since its inception in late 2015, NRG Esports has played a pivotal role in shaping the North American esports landscape. Their initial foray into the competitive scene began with the acquisition of the former Method squad, which included notable players such as Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney.
The peak of NRG's competitive success in Counter-Strike came between 2018 and 2019, with a star-studded lineup that boasted talents like Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz. Alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, and with Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh at the coaching helm, the team solidified its status as a top contender in the region.
This era saw NRG achieve a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Subsequently, under the banner of Evil Geniuses, they clinched victories at prestigious events such as the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, NRG's competitive Counter-Strike journey took a pause in September 2019, when the organization exited the scene, selling its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported sum of $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
As NRG Esports makes its foray back into Counter-Strike amidst the evolving North American esports ecosystem, the scene watches with anticipation. With Team Liquid's surprising relocation from NA to EU and rumors of Evil Geniuses' complete exit from esports, NRG's resurgence comes at a time when the region is experiencing a major shift, leaving the spotlight