NRG Esports roster reportedly leaving to join Evil Geniuses

Evil Geniuses appears poised to re-enter the competitive Counter-Strike arena after nearly a decade-long absence from the scene.

Based on investigative reporting from Dexerto’s Jarek Lewis, the complete NRG Esports competitive lineup is preparing to exit their current organization. Crucially, the team will maintain their current roster composition and begin representing Evil Geniuses in upcoming tournaments. This organizational transition could potentially take effect during ESL One New York, scheduled to commence on September 26.

If these reports prove accurate, this development represents a significant shift in the North American esports landscape.

NRG Esports has systematically built its reputation as one of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s premier competitive units in recent seasons, consistently ranking as North America’s second-strongest squad behind dominant force Team Liquid. The organization’s current lineup recently delivered an impressive showing at the StarLadder Berlin Major, where they demonstrated exceptional form by advancing through both initial group stages to secure placement in the Champions Stage playoffs. Their playoff run included a victory over Natus Vincere before ultimately falling to tournament favorites Astralis in the semifinals, resulting in a respectable 3rd-4th place finish.

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While conventional wisdom would suggest NRG Esports would implement aggressive retention measures for such an accomplished roster, organizational priorities appear to be shifting in different directions.

NRG is currently navigating substantial internal restructuring. The organization recently confirmed acquisition of the Chicago-based franchise slot for the forthcoming Call of Duty League. This strategic move was complemented by the appointment of Hector “H3cz” Rodriguez as co-CEO following his departure from OpTic Gaming. Lewis’s reporting didn’t explicitly confirm whether these organizational developments influenced the roster’s potential departure.

Concurrently, Evil Geniuses underwent acquisition by investment firm PEAK6 back in May. Although EG has historically been recognized primarily for its championship-caliber Dota 2 team, the organization has demonstrated clear expansion ambitions in recent months. The most prominent indicator of this growth strategy emerged from reports indicating Evil Geniuses was exploring a return to League of Legends competition through purchasing Echo Fox’s franchise rights.

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Evil Geniuses has never fielded a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team, though the organization maintains deep historical connections to the series dating back to 2002 with the original Counter-Strike. The organization ceased competitive operations in 2012 but reportedly explored re-entering the competitive scene in 2014 by signing the former iBUYPOWER lineup. That potential return was ultimately abandoned following match-fixing allegations involving the team.

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Neither NRG Esports nor Evil Geniuses have released official statements regarding these roster movement reports.

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