In a recent video announcement that featured co-owner Sapnap and CEO Andy Miller, NRG Esports signaled its re-entry into the competitive Counter-Strike scene with the unveiling of a new North American roster for CS2. The lineup reintroduces some familiar faces to the organization.
Speculation about NRG's potential return to the competitive CS circuit had been mounting earlier in the month. CEO Andy Miller confirmed these rumors during his appearance on the League of Legends podcast "The Crossover," where he expressed the organization's commitment to competing within the North American region once again.
A Veteran Leader
At the helm of this revitalized roster stands veteran CS player Damian Steele, better known as Daps. At 30 years old, Daps is poised to bring a wealth of experience to the team. His career highlights include various achievements and a recent stint as a coach for Team Liquid throughout 2022 and 2023. Daps' history with NRG dates back to 2018-2019, although he departed just before the sale of the organization's former CS:GO roster.
Reuniting Former Teammates
Daps will be joined by Vincent Cayonte, or Brehze, who makes his return to NRG after four years with Evil Geniuses. The 25-year-old has previously competed with Daps under the NRG banner before the roster transitioned to Evil Geniuses. Despite a disappointing year with his former team in 2023, Brehze's return to NRG is seen as a homecoming.
Another notable addition to the squad is Josh Ohm, known in the gaming community as oSee. After being benched earlier in the month, oSee's transition from Team Liquid to NRG comes amid significant changes within Liquid’s own roster, which saw a reduction to just two players. oSee's move to NRG represents a fresh start following the reshuffle at his previous team.
New Blood
Jadan Postma, also known as HexT, enhances the team's dynamic, bringing his talents to NRG after an 18-month tenure with Evil Geniuses, which ended on November 28. His arrival at NRG adds another layer of skill and promise to the roster.
The team also welcomes Justin Coakley, alias FaNg, who found himself without a team after Complexity Gaming made the decision to bench him to make room for Jonathan Jablonowski. FaNg's transfer to NRG offers him a new arena to showcase his abilities.
NRG Esports' Legacy in CS
NRG Esports has been a prominent name in the North American esports landscape since its inception in late 2015. Initially, the organization made a splash with its CS:GO team, consisting of Fatih "gob b" Dayik, Nikola "LEGIJA" Ninić, Samuel "SileNt" Portillo, Justin "Just9n" Ortiz, and Peter "ptr" Gurney. This early team laid the foundation for NRG's growth and popularity in the esports world.
From 2018 to 2019, NRG's CS:GO team reached remarkable heights, featuring an all-star lineup including such luminaries as Tarik Celik, Ethan Arnold, and Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, alongside Brehze and Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov. With Daps and Chet "ImAPet" Singh coaching, the team became renowned as one of the best in North America.
Among their notable achievements was a fourth-place finish at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. Following their transition to Evil Geniuses, the team continued their winning streak with triumphs at the 2019 ESL One: New York and the StarSeries i-League Season 8.
However, September 2019 marked a significant shift when NRG withdrew from competitive CS, selling its then fourth-ranked global roster to Evil Geniuses for a reported $3 million—a move disclosed by insider Guillaume "neL" Ratier.
NRG's comeback occurs amidst a period of considerable change within the North American CS ecosystem. Team Liquid's relocation from NA to EU took many by surprise, and there are persistent rumors suggesting that Evil Geniuses may exit esports altogether. These developments leave only a handful of major NA organizations in the fray.
With its reassembled roster and storied history, NRG Esports appears ready to reclaim its status as a powerhouse in the competitive Counter-Strike community. Fans and rivals alike will undoubtedly be watching closely as this team embarks on its journey through the evolving