In an electrifying video announcement, NRG Esports marked its re-entry into the competitive Counter-Strike arena with the unveiling of a new North American roster for CS2. The revelation, featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, puts an end to the swirling speculations about NRG's comeback to the scene. These rumors were initially confirmed by Miller during an episode of the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast, setting the stage for NRG's strategic positioning within the North American region.
A Veteran Leader
At the helm of the new lineup is Damian Steele, known in the gaming community as Daps. At 30 years old, Daps is no stranger to the rigors of competitive play, boasting a storied career laden with various achievements. Notably, he has also imparted his expertise as a coach for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. His history with NRG stretches back to 2018-2019, where he played before the team's former CS:GO roster was sold. Daps' return to NRG is not just a homecoming but a beacon of experience that could guide the new roster to success.
Reunited Under the NRG Banner
Daps is joined by Vincent Cayonte, alias Brehze, a familiar teammate from their previous stint at NRG before transitioning to Evil Geniuses. After four years and a particularly lackluster 2023 with Evil Geniuses, the 25-year-old prodigy is back under the NRG banner, ready to reignite his former synergy with Daps and push the team to new heights.
Josh Ohm, or oSee, is another significant acquisition from Team Liquid, which recently benched him amid a major roster restructuring. With Liquid paring down their CS2 team to a mere two players, oSee was compelled to find a new squad, and NRG provided that sanctuary.
Further fortifying the lineup is Jadan Postma, known as HexT, who made his exit from Evil Geniuses on November 28 after an impressive 18-month tenure. His departure and subsequent arrival at NRG adds another layer of skill and potential to the team’s dynamic.
The roster is rounded out by Justin Coakley, going by FaNg, previously benched at Complexity. His move came as a result of the organization's decision to bring Jonathan Jablonowski on board. Now, with NRG, FaNg has a fresh opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities on a grand scale.
NRG Esports' Legacy and Revival
NRG Esports, established in late 2015, quickly made a name for itself with a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) team that catalyzed the organization's growth and popularity. Initially signing the former Method squad, the team's early composition 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 a golden era for NRG's CS:GO endeavors, featuring a star-studded lineup with luminaries such as Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz. Alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, this lineup propelled NRG to the upper echelons of the region. During this time, Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh were integral as coaches, steering the team toward notable successes like a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to Evil Geniuses, the team continued its winning streak with triumphs at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, NRG's withdrawal from the competitive CS scene in September 2019 marked the end of an era, as it sold its then fourth globally ranked roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
NRG's resurgence comes amidst a tumultuous time for North American Counter-Strike, with Team Liquid's unexpected move from NA to EU and rumors of Evil Geniuses possibly exiting esports. This leaves a vacuum with only a handful of major NA organizations left standing, a space NRG is eager to fill and dominate once again.
The reassembled NRG team reflects a blend of seasoned expertise and budding talent, poised to make waves in the competitive CS2 landscape. As the North American scene undergoes