In a striking move that's set the esports community abuzz, NRG has officially announced its re-entry into the competitive Counter Strike sphere with CS2. The revelation came through a video announcement featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, unveiling a new North American roster peppered with some familiar faces from the scene.
Anticipation had been building earlier in the month with whispers of NRG's potential comeback to competitive CS. CEO Andy Miller dispelled all rumors by confirming the speculation during an episode of the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast. With this confirmation, NRG has cemented its commitment to making a mark in the North American region once again.
A Veteran Leader
At the helm of the new lineup is none other than Damian Steele, known in the gaming world as Daps. At 30, Daps is no stranger to the rigors of competitive play, bringing a treasure trove of experience to the team. His illustrious career includes various achievements and a recent coaching stint for Team Liquid throughout both 2022 and 2023. This isn't his first rodeo with NRG either; Daps was part of the organization between 2018 and 2019 before leaving just prior to the sale of the team's former CS:GO roster.
Reunited Under the NRG Banner
Daps will be joined by Vincent Cayonte, also known by his gamer tag Brehze, who makes a return from Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old previously shared the stage with Daps at NRG before their previous roster was sold. After four years with Evil Geniuses and a less-than-stellar performance in 2023, Brehze has come back to where he once made his name.
The roster is further bolstered by Josh Ohm, or oSee, transitioning from Liquid after being benched earlier in the same month. Liquid's decision to dramatically restructure their CS2 team, reducing it to a mere two players, left oSee looking for a new squad, which he found in NRG.
Jadan Postma, better known as HexT, is another addition to the team, having left Evil Geniuses on November 28. His tenure there lasted almost 18 months, and now he brings his talents to NRG's ambitious project.
Lastly, Justin Coakley, going by FaNg, joins the lineup after spending several months on the bench. His previous organization, Complexity, made room for Jonathan Jablonowski, prompting FaNg to seek out new opportunities, which led him to NRG.
NRG Esports' Legacy in CS
Since its inception in late 2015, NRG has been a prominent force in North American esports, initially gaining recognition with a CS:GO roster that propelled the organization's early growth. The original team comprised Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney.
Between 2018 and 2019, NRG's CS:GO team saw a significant surge in success, assembling an all-star cast including the likes of Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz. Alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, and under the guidance of coaches like Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh, the team established itself as a powerhouse in the region.
Their achievements during this golden era were noteworthy, culminating in a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following the team's transition to Evil Geniuses, they continued their victorious streak, securing wins at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, September 2019 marked a turning point as NRG exited the competitive CS scene, selling its then fourth globally ranked roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
This return to CS comes at a time when the North American esports landscape is undergoing significant changes. Team Liquid's surprising move from NA to EU and rumors of Evil Geniuses potentially exiting esports have left a void in the region—one that NRG seems intent on filling.
As the dust settles on these developments, all eyes will be on NRG's newly minted roster. The blend of veteran savvy and fresh talent promises to shake up the competitive circuit. The question remains whether this team can recapture the magic of