In an exciting development for the esports community, NRG Esports has marked its comeback to competitive Counter-Strike with the introduction of a new North American roster in CS2. The revelation came through a video announcement featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller. This move comes amid a flurry of speculation about the organization's re-entry into the competitive CS scene, which was confirmed by Miller during an episode of the League of Legends podcast "The Crossover."
NRG's Veteran-Led Roster
The newly formed team will be spearheaded by seasoned player Damian Steele, known in the gaming world as Daps. At 30 years old, Daps is no stranger to the esports arena, having accumulated an impressive array of achievements throughout his career. His experience includes a coaching stint with Team Liquid in both 2022 and 2023. Daps is making a return to NRG after previously playing for the organization between 2018 and 2019, leaving just before the sale of NRG's former CS:GO roster.
Accompanying Daps is Vincent Cayonte, better known as Brehze, who transitions from Evil Geniuses back to familiar territory with NRG. The 25-year-old sharpshooter had been part of the NRG lineup alongside Daps before their previous squad was sold. After spending four years with Evil Geniuses and experiencing a less-than-stellar 2023 season, Brehze is set to reignite his form with NRG.
Josh Ohm, or oSee, finds a new beginning with NRG following his benching from Liquid amidst a major restructuring that saw the team downsizing its CS2 roster. With Liquid's decision to pare down to just two players, oSee was compelled to seek opportunities elsewhere, leading him to join forces with NRG.
Jadan Postma, also known as HexT, enhances the team's prospects after parting ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28. His tenure with the organization lasted nearly one and a half years, and he now brings his talents to bolster NRG's competitive edge.
Finally, the roster welcomes Justin Coakley, alias FaNg, who left Complexity after being benched to make room for Jonathan Jablonowski. FaNg's transition to NRG could prove to be a pivotal move for his career.
A Look Back at NRG's Esports Legacy
Since its inception in late 2015, NRG Esports has been a significant force in the North American esports landscape. Its initial foray into CS:GO was with the acquisition of the former Method squad, which included 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 reached new heights of success with a stellar lineup featuring Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov. Their collective prowess earned the team acclaim as one of the top contenders in the region. During this golden era, Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh were at the helm as coaches, guiding the team to notable finishes such as fourth place in the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major and victories at ESL One: New York 2019 and StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, September 2019 saw NRG Esports exit the competitive CS scene when it sold its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a substantial sum of $3 million, as reported by industry insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
The Evolving North American CS Landscape
NRG's resurgence occurs at a time when the North American CS ecosystem is undergoing significant transformation. Team Liquid's unexpected relocation from NA to EU and persistent rumors of Evil Geniuses' potential departure from esports have left the community anticipating the future dynamics of the regional scene. With only a handful of major organizations remaining, NRG's entry injects a dose of vitality and competition into the North American circuit.
As fans and players alike watch the unfolding developments, NRG's revamped roster promises to be a formidable presence in CS2. With a blend of veteran savvy and fresh talent, NRG is poised to reclaim its status as a powerhouse in the esports domain.