In a move that marks a significant shakeup in the competitive Counter Strike landscape, NRG Esports has announced its re-entry into the scene with a new roster for CS2. This revelation was made public through a video announcement featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, setting the stage for an exciting return to form for the North American organization.
NRG's Strategic Re-Entry
Rumors had been circulating about NRG's potential comeback to the competitive CS sphere, which CEO Andy Miller confirmed during an episode of the "The Crossover" League of Legends podcast. The organization has now put all speculation to rest by unveiling plans to compete once again in the North American region, much to the delight of fans and industry watchers alike.
A Veteran-Led Roster
The newly assembled team is led by none other than Damian Steele, known in the gaming community as Daps. At 30 years old, Daps is no stranger to the rigors of competitive play, bringing a rich history of achievements and insights from his recent coaching stint with Team Liquid in both 2022 and 2023. His previous tenure with NRG between 2018 and 2019 saw him leave just before the organization's former CS:GO roster was sold, making his return a notable homecoming.
Alongside Daps, Vincent Cayonte, also known by his gamer tag Brehze, is making his return to NRG after a four-year period with Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old player had previously competed with Daps on the NRG roster before its sale. Despite a disappointing year with Evil Geniuses in 2023, Brehze's track record speaks volumes, and his reunion with Daps is anticipated to bring back the synergy that once made them formidable opponents.
Josh Ohm, better recognized as oSee, joins the roster from Team Liquid, where he found himself benched amid a broader restructuring that reduced their CS2 team to just two players. In seeking a new team, oSee found a spot with NRG, adding his considerable talent to the mix.
The lineup is bolstered by Jadan Postma, or HexT, who left Evil Geniuses on November 28 following an 18-month tenure. His addition to NRG is poised to strengthen the team's competitive edge.
Completing the roster is Justin Coakley, known in-game as FaNg. After several months on the bench due to his former team Complexity's acquisition of Jonathan Jablonowski, FaNg departed and has since found a new beginning with NRG.
NRG Esports' Legacy in CS
NRG Esports has a storied history within the CS:GO community. Founded in late 2015, NRG quickly made a name for itself by acquiring the former Method squad, consisting of Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney. This initial foray helped catapult the organization to prominence within the esports realm.
From 2018 to 2019, NRG's CS:GO team achieved substantial success, assembling an all-star lineup that included legends like Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz. Along with Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, and under the guidance of coaches Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh, the team earned a reputation as one of the best in North America.
During this golden era, NRG notched impressive accomplishments, such as a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to the banner of Evil Geniuses, the team continued their winning streak with victories at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, in September 2019, NRG exited the competitive CS scene when it sold its globally fourth-ranked roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier. This move marked the end of an era but set the stage for future endeavors.
Implications for North American Counter Strike
NRG's return comes at a time of significant shifts within the North American Counter Strike environment. Team Liquid's surprising relocation from NA to EU and rumors of Evil Geniuses potentially exiting esports altogether have left only a handful of major organizations in the region. NRG's re-entry could signal a revitalization of the North American