In an electrifying video announcement featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, NRG Esports heralded its much-anticipated return to the competitive Counter Strike arena with its foray into CS2. The team introduced a new North American roster, rekindling ties with some of its former talents.
Rumors about NRG's potential comeback to the competitive CS scene had been gaining momentum earlier in the month. These speculations were put to rest when Miller confirmed the news during an episode of the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast. The organization has made clear its intentions to be a competitive force in the North American region.
Experienced Leadership
At the helm of the new roster is the seasoned veteran Damian Steele, better known as Daps. At the age of 30, Daps returns to NRG with an impressive portfolio of achievements, including his recent roles as coach for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. His history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, prior to his departure which preceded the sale of the organization's former CS:GO roster.
Star Players Reunite
Rejoining Daps is Vincent Cayonte, alias Brehze, who makes a move from Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old sharpshooter previously teamed up with Daps at NRG before transitioning to Evil Geniuses, where he spent four years. After a less than stellar 2023 season with Evil Geniuses, Brehze opted for a homecoming to NRG.
Josh Ohm, or oSee, also finds a new beginning with NRG following his benching from Liquid amid a major roster overhaul that saw the team reduce its CS2 lineup to a mere two players. In search of greener pastures, oSee secured his spot with NRG.
The roster gains additional firepower with Jadan Postma, known as HexT, who parted ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28 after a tenure of nearly one and a half years with the organization.
Completing the lineup is Justin Coakley, going by FaNg, who was previously benched when his former team, Complexity, brought Jonathan Jablonowski onboard. FaNg's transition to NRG marks a significant step in his professional journey.
NRG Esports' Storied History
NRG Esports, established in late 2015, swiftly made a name for itself in the esports world with its original CS:GO squad. This initial team, comprised of Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney, laid the foundation for the organization's growth and popularity.
The period between 2018 and 2019 marked a golden era for NRG's CS:GO team, boasting an all-star lineup with legends like Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz. Together with Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, this lineup propelled the team to the upper echelons of the region. Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh provided guidance as coaches during these successful times.
Among their noteworthy accomplishments was a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to Evil Geniuses, they continued their triumphant streak with victories 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 globally ranked roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, as disclosed by insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
NRG's resurgence comes at a transformative time for North American Counter Strike. With Team Liquid's surprising relocation from NA to EU and swirling rumors about Evil Geniuses potentially exiting esports, the landscape is ripe for NRG to make a significant impact.
As the North American scene undergoes these seismic shifts, NRG's strategic revival and the assembly of a roster blending experience with fresh talent could signal the dawn of a new era for the storied organization and its fans. With eyes set on reclaiming its status as a top contender, NRG Esports is poised to reignite the competitive spirit that once defined its legacy in Counter Strike.