In a recent video announcement featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, NRG heralded its re-entry into the competitive Counter Strike arena with CS2. The organization unveiled a new North American roster that reintegrates some familiar faces.
Speculation had been rife earlier this month about NRG's potential comeback to the competitive CS scene. These rumors were confirmed by Miller during an episode of the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast. NRG has set its sights on competing within the North American region, reaffirming their commitment to the game.
A Veteran Leader
At the helm of the new roster is seasoned CS player Damian Steele, better known as Daps. At 30, Daps is a figure of experience and achievement in the esports world, having played pivotal roles, including a coaching stint for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. His history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, before he left just prior to the team's previous CS:GO roster being sold.
Return of Former Players
Joining Daps is Vincent Cayonte, or Brehze, who returns from a tenure with Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old previously competed alongside Daps at NRG before the roster transitioned to Evil Geniuses. After four years away and following a less than stellar 2023 season with EG, Brehze is back under the NRG banner.
Josh Ohm, known in-game as oSee, comes aboard from Team Liquid after being benched earlier in the month. Liquid's significant roster restructuring, which saw them pare down their CS2 team to just two players, left oSee seeking a new team, leading him to NRG.
Jadan Postma, also known as HexT, is another addition to the lineup, making the switch after an 18-month spell with Evil Geniuses that concluded on November 28.
Rounding out the roster is Justin Coakley, alias FaNg. He found himself without a team after Complexity Gaming benched him to make way for Jonathan Jablonowski. FaNg's move to NRG marks a new chapter in his professional career.
NRG Esports' Storied History
Since its inception in late 2015, NRG quickly made a name for itself in the esports domain by fielding a CS:GO team that catalyzed the organization's growth and popularity. Its original lineup featured Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney.
The period between 2018 and 2019 marked a golden era for NRG's CS:GO endeavors. With an all-star cast including Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, complemented by Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, the team established itself as a powerhouse in the region. During this successful phase, Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh served as coaches.
Among their notable achievements was a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to Evil Geniuses, they continued their winning streak with triumphs at the 2019 ESL One: New York and StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, in September 2019, NRG stepped away from the competitive CS scene when it sold its then-fourth globally ranked roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, a deal disclosed by insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
NRG's return to CS coincides with considerable shifts in the North American CS landscape. Team Liquid's unexpected move from NA to EU and the circulating rumors about Evil Geniuses potentially exiting esports have left a void with only a few major NA organizations remaining.
With these changes, NRG's re-emergence is not just a nostalgic nod to their past but also a strategic play in a transforming regional ecosystem. Their revamped roster blends experience with proven talent, setting the stage for what could be another illustrious chapter in NRG's competitive Counter Strike narrative.