In a riveting update that has the esports community buzzing, NRG Esports has officially announced its re-entry into competitive Counter Strike, specifically in the game's latest iteration, CS2. The revelation was made public through a video announcement featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, unveiling a new North American roster peppered with familiar faces.
The speculation about NRG's return to the competitive CS scene had been gaining momentum earlier in the month. These rumors were substantiated by Miller during his appearance on the League of Legends podcast "The Crossover," where he confirmed the organization's plans to assert their presence in the North American region once again.
A Veteran Leader
At the helm of the newly minted roster is Damian Steele, better known as Daps. At 30, Daps is a seasoned veteran of the CS battlegrounds, bringing a trove of experience from his illustrious career. His resume includes significant stints and achievements, most notably serving as a coach for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. Daps is no stranger to NRG, having played for them between 2018 and 2019 before parting ways just prior to the sale of the organization's former CS:GO roster.
Formidable Roster Additions
Joining Daps is Vincent Cayonte, also known as Brehze, who transitions back to NRG after a four-year tenure with Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old sharpshooter had previously competed alongside Daps in NRG, and his return signifies a homecoming after what was considered a lackluster 2023 season with his former team.
The roster is further bolstered by the addition of Josh Ohm, known in the gaming circles as oSee. The sharp-eyed sniper makes his way over from Liquid after being benched amidst a significant restructuring of their CS2 team. With Liquid downsizing their active roster to merely two players, oSee found sanctuary and new opportunities within the ranks of NRG.
Jadan Postma, or HexT, is another high-caliber player who joined the NRG lineup. Parting ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28, HexT ended an almost 18-month association with the North American organization, now ready to showcase his skills under a new banner.
Rounding out the team is Justin Coakley, known to fans as FaNg. After several months in limbo due to being benched, following Complexity's decision to bring Jonathan Jablonowski onboard, FaNg departed to make room for the new addition and has since been scooped up by NRG.
NRG Esports' Storied CS Legacy
NRG Esports is not a newcomer to the realm of Counter Strike. Established in late 2015, this prominent North American esports organization first made its mark by acquiring a CS:GO roster that propelled its early growth and popularity. This initial team consisted of 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 zenith of NRG's CS:GO endeavors, showcasing a star-studded lineup that boasted the likes of Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz. Alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, and under the guidance of coaches including Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh, the team cemented its status as a powerhouse in the region.
During this golden era, NRG's achievements included a commendable fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to Evil Geniuses, the squad also clinched victories at prestigious events such as the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, in September 2019, NRG made the difficult decision to withdraw from the competitive CS scene, selling its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, as disclosed by esports insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
The timing of NRG's comeback is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with significant shifts in the North American CS landscape. Team Liquid's surprising move from NA to EU and the swirling rumors of Evil Geniuses potentially exiting esports altogether have left only a handful of major NA organizations in play.
With this new roster, NRG Esports looks poised to reclaim its status and influence in the competitive Counter Strike sphere