In an exciting development for the esports community, NRG has announced its highly anticipated return to the competitive Counter Strike arena with the introduction of their new roster for CS2. The revelation came via a video announcement that featured co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, confirming the speculation that had been rife within the esports circles.
NRG's Strategic Re-Entry into Competitive CS
Andy Miller had previously hinted at this strategic move during an episode of the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast. This marked a significant moment as NRG reasserts its commitment to compete in the North American region, which is currently experiencing a transformative phase in its competitive landscape.
A Veteran-Led Roster
The newly formed team will be led by seasoned veteran Damian Steele, known in the gaming world as Daps. At 30 years old, Daps' extensive experience and past achievements make him a natural choice for the captain's role. His prior stint as a coach for Team Liquid in both 2022 and 2023, coupled with his previous tenure as a player for NRG between 2018 and 2019, brings a level of expertise and continuity to the team. Notably, Daps left NRG just before the sale of their former CS:GO roster, making his return a homecoming of sorts.
Accompanying Daps is Vincent Cayonte, or Brehze, who transfers from Evil Geniuses. Brehze, a 25-year-old sharpshooter, reunites with Daps after previously playing together on the NRG squad before its acquisition by Evil Geniuses. After four years away and a particularly challenging 2023 season with Evil Geniuses, Brehze’s return to NRG is poised to reignite his career.
Josh Ohm, also known as oSee, is another significant addition to the team. His transition from Team Liquid, where he was recently benched amid a broad restructuring effort that saw the team reduce its CS2 roster to just two players, represents a fresh start for the skilled player within the NRG family.
Jadan Postma, better known as HexT, enhances the team's dynamic following his departure from Evil Geniuses on November 28. With an impressive 18-month tenure under his belt, HexT's recent experience with another top North American organization is invaluable.
Rounding out the lineup is Justin Coakley, alias FaNg. Previously benched for several months after Complexity Gaming brought in Jonathan Jablonowski, FaNg's move to NRG offers him an opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities on a platform eager to harness his potential.
Reflecting on NRG's Esports Legacy
NRG Esports, established in late 2015, quickly made a name for itself in the competitive scene with its original CS:GO roster. Initially signing the former Method squad, which included Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney, NRG began its journey to prominence.
The period between 2018 and 2019 marked the zenith of NRG's success in CS:GO, boasting an all-star lineup featuring Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov. Under the guidance of coaches Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh, the team solidified its status as a powerhouse within the region.
This golden era was punctuated by remarkable achievements, such as securing a fourth-place finish in the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to the Evil Geniuses banner, they continued their winning streak with triumphs at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
The withdrawal of NRG from competitive CS in September 2019, however, was a significant event. The sale of its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million—according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier—was a pivotal moment that reshaped the organization's trajectory.
The Changing Face of North American CS
NRG's resurgence comes at a time when the North American CS scene is undergoing substantial changes. With Team Liquid's surprising move from NA to EU and rumors of Evil Geniuses potentially exiting esports altogether, the region's competitive structure appears to be on the cusp of a major overhaul. NRG's re-entry could not only