In a striking development for the esports scene, NRG Esports has marked its return to competitive Counter Strike in CS2 with an announcement that has fans buzzing. The revelation came via a video featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, who introduced a new North American roster peppered with some familiar faces.
Rumors of NRG's re-entry into the competitive Counter Strike arena had been circulating earlier this month, culminating in Miller confirming the speculation during an appearance on the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast. NRG has now made it official, signaling their intent to be a force within the North American region.
Seasoned Leadership
At the helm of the new squad is seasoned veteran Damian Steele, known by his in-game moniker Daps. At 30, Daps brings an impressive resume to the table, including stints as coach for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. His history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, prior to the sale of the organization's former CS:GO roster. Daps' return to NRG is a homecoming of sorts, one that promises to leverage his extensive experience to guide the team to success.
Star-Studded Roster
Daps is joined by Vincent Cayonte, better known as Brehze, who transitions from Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old sharpshooter previously played alongside Daps at NRG before the aforementioned roster sale. After four years at Evil Geniuses and a lackluster 2023 season, Brehze has opted to reunite with NRG in hopes of recapturing past glory.
The roster also welcomes Josh Ohm, or oSee, from Team Liquid after being benched amid a significant restructuring of their CS2 team. With Liquid downsizing to just two players, oSee was compelled to find a new team, and NRG provided that opportunity.
Jadan Postma, known as HexT, is another notable addition. He parted ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28 after an 18-month tenure. His arrival bolsters an already promising NRG lineup.
Completing the ensemble is Justin Coakley, alias FaNg, who found himself sidelined after Complexity Gaming reshuffled their roster to accommodate Jonathan Jablonowski. FaNg's move to NRG is seen as a fresh start following his period of inactivity.
A Storied Past
NRG Esports' journey in Counter Strike has been marked by both early growth and high-profile success. Established in late 2015, NRG first made waves with a CS:GO team comprised of Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney. This initial foray helped cement the organization's reputation in the esports world.
Their peak came between 2018 and 2019, when NRG's CS:GO team, featuring stars like Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, became one of the best in North America. Daps and coach Chet "ImAPet" Singh were instrumental during this golden era, which included a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their acquisition by Evil Geniuses, the team went on to secure victories 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, selling their then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
NRG's comeback occurs amidst a shifting landscape in North American Counter Strike. Team Liquid's surprising relocation from NA to EU and rumors of Evil Geniuses' potential exit from esports altogether have left a void in the region—one that NRG appears ready to fill.
This new chapter for NRG not only revives the organization's storied presence in competitive Counter Strike but also injects much-needed vitality into the North American scene. With a blend of seasoned veterans and hungry talent, NRG's reassembled roster is poised to make waves and perhaps even reclaim the heights of their past achievements.