In an electrifying video announcement featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, NRG Esports declared its re-entry into the competitive Counter Strike arena with the advent of CS2. The organization unveiled a dynamic North American roster, which interestingly includes some familiar faces from its past.
Speculation had been rife earlier in the month about NRG's potential comeback to the competitive CS circuit. These rumors were substantiated by Miller during his appearance on the League of Legends podcast "The Crossover," where he confirmed the organization's intentions to vie for supremacy in the North American region once more.
The Veteran's Return
At the helm of the new roster is seasoned CS player Damian Steele, better known as 'Daps'. At 30, Daps carries a trove of experience under his belt, with a resume that boasts notable achievements and a recent coaching stint for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. His history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, prior to his exit just ahead of the sale of the organization's former CS:GO roster.
Familiar Faces
Accompanying Daps is Vincent Cayonte, alias 'Brehze', formerly of Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old sharpshooter had previously teamed up with Daps in NRG before transitioning to Evil Geniuses. After four years and a less-than-stellar 2023 season with EG, Brehze has made his way back to the NRG fold.
Another noteworthy addition to the team is Josh Ohm, or 'oSee', coming from Liquid following his benching earlier in the month. Liquid's decision to scale down their CS2 team to just two players left oSee seeking a new team, leading him to NRG.
Jadan Postma, known as 'HexT', strengthens the lineup further after parting ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28, concluding an 18-month tenure with the North American esports entity.
Completing the ensemble is Justin Coakley, 'FaNg', who found himself without a team after Complexity Gaming benched him to make room for Jonathan Jablonowski. FaNg's transition to NRG marks a new chapter in his professional journey.
NRG Esports' Illustrious CS Legacy
Since its inception in late 2015, NRG Esports has been a prominent force in the North American esports landscape. The organization made an immediate impact by acquiring the former Method squad, which included Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney.
The period between 2018 and 2019 marked the golden era for NRG's CS:GO team, as it showcased a star-studded lineup with legends like Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz. Together with Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, this powerhouse team cemented NRG's status as one of the top contenders in the region. Coaching expertise was provided by Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh during these triumphant times.
Among their accolades was a commendable fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to Evil Geniuses, the team also clinched victories at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, NRG's journey in competitive CS took a hiatus in September 2019 when they withdrew from the scene, selling their then globally fourth-ranked roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported sum of $3 million, according to esports insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
This resurgence comes at a time when the North American CS ecosystem is undergoing substantial shifts. With Team Liquid's unexpected relocation from NA to EU and swirling rumors about Evil Geniuses possibly exiting esports, the stage is set for NRG to potentially lead the charge for the North American front.
NRG's return not only revitalizes their legacy within the CS community but also injects a dose of excitement for fans eager to witness the revival of high-caliber North American CS gameplay. As the new roster gears up for competition, all eyes will be on NRG to see if they can recapture the magic of their previous reign and navigate the evolving landscape of competitive Counter Strike.