In a move that marks a significant return to the competitive gaming scene, NRG has announced its re-entry into Counter Strike with a new roster for CS2. The announcement was made in a video featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, setting the stage for an exciting chapter in North American esports.
Rumors of NRG's potential comeback to the Counter Strike arena had been making rounds earlier this month, culminating in Miller confirming these during an appearance on the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast. With a clear intent to make their presence felt in the North American region, NRG's plans have now come to fruition.
Experienced Leadership
At the helm of the new team is veteran player Damian Steele, better known as Daps. At 30 years of age, Daps is no stranger to the esports landscape, boasting an impressive track record that includes a stint as coach for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. His history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, just before the organization sold its former CS:GO roster. Daps' leadership and experience are expected to be pivotal in driving the team's success.
Formidable Roster
Daps is joined by Vincent Cayonte, alias Brehze, who returns to NRG after a four-year spell with Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old previously played alongside Daps at NRG and is looking to bring his high level of play back to the team following a lackluster 2023 season with his former squad.
Josh Ohm, known in the gaming community as oSee, has also been brought into the fold from Team Liquid, which recently benched him amid a broader restructuring effort that saw their CS2 team reduced to two players. oSee's transition to NRG provides him with a fresh start and an opportunity to showcase his skills in a new environment.
The roster is further bolstered by Jadan Postma, or HexT, who left Evil Geniuses on November 28 after an 18-month tenure. His recent departure suggests a drive to embrace new challenges and contribute to NRG's ambitious goals.
Completing the lineup is Justin Coakley, known as FaNg, who found himself without a team after Complexity Gaming benched him to make room for Jonathan Jablonowski. FaNg's addition to NRG is seen as a strategic move, bringing in a player eager to prove his worth in the competitive circuit.
NRG's Legacy in Esports
NRG's history in esports dates back to late 2015, with the organization initially gaining recognition through its CS:GO team. This early roster, consisting of Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney, laid the foundation for what would become a renowned name in North American esports.
The period between 2018 and 2019 represented a golden era for NRG's CS:GO team, featuring a star-studded lineup including the likes of Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, along with Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov. This lineup, coached by Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh, propelled the team to the forefront of the competition, earning them a reputation as one of the best in the region.
During this time, the team achieved notable successes, such as a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major and victories at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8, under the banner of Evil Geniuses.
However, September 2019 saw NRG exit the competitive CS scene when it sold its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier. This move marked the end of an era for the organization.
The Changing Landscape of North American CS
NRG's resurgence comes at a time of considerable shifts within the North American Counter Strike ecosystem. Notably, Team Liquid has moved its operations from NA to EU, and there are whispers of Evil Geniuses potentially exiting esports, leaving a void that only a few major organizations like NRG remain to fill.
With a blend of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers, NRG's revamped roster is poised to make waves in the competitive CS2 scene. The esports community will undoubtedly watch