In an electrifying video announcement, NRG Esports signaled its comeback to the competitive Counter-Strike arena with the introduction of a new North American roster for CS2. The revelation, which featured co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, put an end to the swirling speculations about NRG's re-entry into the competitive CS scene.
Andy Miller had initially sparked rumors during his appearance on the League of Legends podcast "The Crossover," where he hinted at the organization's plans. These plans are now confirmed, with NRG setting its sights on competing within the North American region.
A Veteran Leader
At the helm of the team is Damian Steele, known in the gaming community as Daps. The 30-year-old veteran brings an impressive resume to NRG, having achieved numerous milestones throughout his career, including a coaching stint for Team Liquid in both 2022 and 2023. Daps' history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, before he parted ways with the team just prior to the sale of their former CS:GO roster.
Returning Stars and New Talent
Daps is joined by Vincent Cayonte, better known as Brehze, who transitions from Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old player previously shared a roster with Daps at NRG before moving to Evil Geniuses, where he spent four years. However, following a less than stellar 2023 season with Evil Geniuses, Brehze has made his way back to NRG.
The roster is further bolstered by Josh Ohm, or oSee, who comes over from Team Liquid after being benched amidst a significant restructuring of their CS2 team. With Liquid paring down their lineup to just two players, oSee was compelled to find a new squad, ultimately landing with NRG.
Jadan Postma, also known in the esports world as HexT, marks another addition to the team after parting ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28. His tenure with Evil Geniuses lasted almost 18 months, and he now looks forward to making his mark with NRG.
Completing the lineup is Justin Coakley, alias FaNg, who found himself sidelined for several months following Complexity's decision to bring on Jonathan Jablonowski. FaNg's transition to NRG follows this reshuffle, positioning him once again at the forefront of competitive play.
NRG Esports' Storied History
NRG Esports, founded in late 2015, quickly became a prominent name in North American esports, largely due to its successful CS:GO team. The original roster included Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney, who were signed from Method.
From 2018 to 2019, the team saw a golden era with an all-star lineup that boasted talents such as Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov. Under the guidance of coaches Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh, NRG cemented its status as one of the top teams in the region.
During this period, NRG's CS:GO team notched up significant achievements, including a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to the banner of Evil Geniuses, they continued their winning streak with triumphs at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, in September 2019, NRG withdrew from the competitive CS scene, selling its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
The Changing Landscape of North American CS
NRG's return to competitive Counter-Strike occurs amidst a shifting landscape in the North American scene. In a surprising move, Team Liquid announced their relocation from NA to EU, and there are persistent rumors suggesting that Evil Geniuses might exit esports completely. This would leave only a handful of major NA organizations in the fray.
With these changes, the stage is set for NRG to potentially reclaim its former glory and reshape the future of North American Counter-Strike. The newly minted roster represents a blend of seasoned experience and fresh talent, poised to make an impact in the competitive circuit. Fans and competitors alike will be watching