In an electrifying video announcement, NRG Esports heralded its return to the competitive Counter-Strike arena with CS2. The revelation was made public by co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, showcasing a revamped North American roster that sees the return of some familiar faces.
The esports community had been rife with speculation about NRG's potential re-entry into the competitive Counter-Strike scene. CEO Andy Miller put all rumors to rest during an appearance on the "The Crossover," a League of Legends-focused podcast, where he confirmed the team's intentions to vie for dominance in the North American region once again.
A Veteran Leader
At the helm of the new roster is the seasoned professional Damian Steele, better known by his alias Daps. At 30 years old, Daps carries a wealth of experience under his belt, highlighted by an impressive array of achievements. His most recent roles include coaching stints for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. Daps is no stranger to NRG, having played for them from 2018 to 2019 before parting ways just prior to the sale of their former CS:GO roster.
Star Players Reunite
Daps will be joined by Vincent Cayonte, or Brehze as he is popularly known, who transitions back to NRG after a period with Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old sharpshooter previously shared the stage with Daps at NRG before the group was sold. After spending four years with Evil Geniuses and experiencing a lackluster 2023, Brehze opted to return to his old stomping grounds at NRG.
Another noteworthy addition to the roster is Josh Ohm, whose in-game name is oSee. He comes over from Team Liquid following his benching earlier in the month amidst a significant overhaul of their CS2 lineup, which saw the team pare down to just two players. In the wake of these changes, oSee has found a new chapter with NRG.
Jadan Postma, also known as HexT, is another talent to watch, having parted ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28 after an 18-month tenure. His arrival adds further depth to the NRG lineup.
Rounding out the team is Justin Coakley, or FaNg, who ventured to NRG after being benched for several months. His previous organization, Complexity, reshuffled their roster to make room for Jonathan Jablonowski, prompting FaNg's departure.
NRG Esports' Storied Legacy
NRG Esports first made its mark in the competitive gaming world in late 2015, gaining early recognition and growth through its CS:GO squad. Initially, they signed the former Method team, featuring Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney.
The peak of NRG's CS:GO success came between 2018 and 2019 when they fielded a star-studded lineup comprising Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov. This powerhouse team cemented NRG's status as one of the top contenders in the region, with Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh serving as coaches during this golden era.
Among their notable accolades was a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to Evil Geniuses, the team continued their winning streak with triumphs at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
Despite their success, NRG exited the competitive CS scene in September 2019, selling their globally fourth-ranked roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier. This marked a significant shift in the organization's focus until now.
NRG's comeback occurs amid a transformative period for North American Counter-Strike. Notably, Team Liquid shocked fans by relocating from NA to EU. Additionally, there are whispers of Evil Geniuses potentially exiting the esports scene, which would leave only a handful of major organizations in the NA landscape.
With the unveiling of their ambitious new roster, NRG Esports is poised to reignite their legacy and reshape the future of North American Counter-Strike competition.