NRG Esports Announces Return to Counter-Strike with New Roster

In a move that marks a significant return to the competitive Counter-Strike scene, NRG Esports has announced its re-entry with a newly assembled North American roster. This announcement was made public through a video featuring co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller. The reveal ends weeks of speculation and confirms NRG's commitment to CS2, the latest iteration in the Counter-Strike series.

Andy Miller had previously hinted at this development during an episode of the "The Crossover," a League of Legends podcast, where he spoke about the organization's future plans. With this strategic move, NRG aims to solidify its presence in the North American region, which is currently undergoing substantial changes.

Experienced Leadership

The new roster will be led by veteran player Damian Steele, better known as Daps. At 30 years old, Daps is no stranger to the rigors of competitive play, having accrued a vast array of achievements throughout his career. Notably, Daps served as a coach for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023, bringing a level of expertise that could prove invaluable for NRG's ambitions. His history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, just before the organization sold its former CS:GO roster.

Roster Reinforcements

Daps will be joined by Vincent Cayonte, alias Brehze, a familiar face from their previous stint together in NRG. The 25-year-old has spent the last four years with Evil Geniuses but has now returned to his old stomping ground following a less-than-stellar 2023 season with EG. Brehze's decision to rejoin NRG could be seen as a homecoming after his considerable time away.

Josh Ohm, also known as oSee, makes the switch from Liquid, where he found himself benched amid a major overhaul of their CS2 team. Liquid's decision to pare down their roster left oSee looking for a new team, a search that culminated with his inclusion in NRG's lineup.

Jadan Postma, or HexT, is another addition, parting ways with Evil Geniuses on November 28 after an 18-month tenure. His arrival further bolsters the team's strength and depth.

Completing the lineup is Justin Coakley, known in the gaming community as FaNg. After several months on the bench due to Complexity's acquisition of Jonathan Jablonowski, FaNg has sought out new opportunities, landing him a spot on NRG's promising roster.

A Look Back at NRG's CS Legacy

NRG Esports has been a prominent name in North American esports since its inception in late 2015. The organization initially gained recognition with a CS:GO roster that included notable players such as Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney. This early team laid the groundwork for what would become a highly successful venture into competitive CS.

From 2018 to 2019, NRG's CS:GO team saw a period of remarkable success, assembling an all-star lineup with the likes of Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz. Together with Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov, they propelled NRG to the forefront of the scene. During this golden era, with Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh coaching, the team clinched a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major and celebrated victories at ESL One: New York and StarSeries i-League Season 8 under the Evil Geniuses banner.

Despite these triumphs, NRG withdrew from competitive CS in September 2019, selling its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million, according to insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier. This sale marked the end of an era for NRG within CS:GO.

However, the landscape of North American CS has continued to evolve. In recent developments, Team Liquid has relocated from NA to EU, and rumors suggest that Evil Geniuses might exit esports, leaving NRG as one of the few remaining major organizations in the region.

With this new roster, NRG Esports not only rekindles its storied past within the Counter-Strike domain but also signals a strong intention to shape the future of the North American competitive scene. As the team gears up for upcoming challenges, fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see if