NRG Esports

NRG Esports is an American professional esports organization based in Los Angeles, California. It has rosters in Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Clash Royale, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Fortnite, Gears of War, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Rocket League, Valorant, and a number of streamers on the internet platform Twitch.

NRG Esports
Founded2015
Key people
Andy Miller (Co-CEO)
Hector Rodriguez (Co-CEO)
SubsidiariesSan Francisco Shock
OpTic Chicago
Websitewww.nrg.gg

History

The team was founded by Sacramento Kings co-owners Mark Mastrov and Andy Miller in November 2015.[1]

In March 2016 NRG announced that Alex Rodriguez, Shaquille O'Neal and Jimmy Rollins were joining as investors.[2] On April 20, 2018, Tiesto was announced as an investor.[3]

In September 2019, it was announced that Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez had joined as co-CEO,[4] after another announcement the same day that Hector and the Immortals Gaming Club had parted ways.[5]

On August 24, 2020, Tubefilter announced that NRG partnered with Shots Studios, a Los Angeles-based production and management company, for content production, social strategy, and merchandising.[6]

Current divisions

Apex Legends

On February 11, 2019, NRG became one of the first organizations to sign a professional Apex Legends player with the signing of Coby "Dizzy" Meadows.[7] The team signed Brandon "Ace" Winn and Marshall "Mohr" Mohr in March and May, respectively, to round out its three-player squad.[8][9] Dizzy competed in the first-ever Apex Legends Pro-Am, securing 1st place, the tournament's MVP award, and a $23,000 charitable donation to the V Foundation.[10] Following the retirement of Dizzy in December 2019,[11][12][13] the team picked up their new talent Joseph "Frexs" Sanchez in the beginning of January, about a month later.[14]

Dragon Ball FighterZ

NRG entered the Dragon Ball FighterZ scene in 2018 with the signing of Eduardo "HookGangGod" Deno.[15] His first win under the NRG banner was at Summit of Power 2018 where he took down SonicFox to take the title.[16] Eduardo was also featured in his very own docuseries on Sony Crackle called "Hook'D" In January 2020, HookGangGod was released from the roster. The 4-part series featured a cameo appearance from Shaquille O'Neal and debuted on July 27, 2018.[17]

Overwatch
Main article: San Francisco Shock

On August 3, NRG signed the members of the former Overwatch team Luminosity Gaming.[18] NRG owns the Overwatch League team San Francisco Shock, whose roster is listed below. NRG owned an Overwatch Contenders team competing as the Shock's academy team up until May 8, 2019, when they withdrew their participation in the tournament.[19]

Rocket League

NRG Esports signed the Kings of Urban roster after a strong finish in their region in RLCS Season 1 in 2016.[20] RLCS Season 2 saw NRG bow out of the RLCS finals after a loss to Flipsid3 Tactics, finishing 5-6th. In the off-season, GarrettG was picked up from his former team Orbit, replacing Sadjunior. This new roster achieved a 3rd-place finish in the RLCS Season 3 finals, losing out to the eventual champions in Northern Gaming. After a disappointing finish in the RLCS Season 4 Finals, NRG dropped mainstay Jacob for rookie prodigy jstn. With jstn, NRG came one goal away from becoming the Rocket League world champions in Season 5, being bested in the end by Dignitas. NRG would continue to dominate RLCS regional play in seasons 6 and 7, only to fall short of expectations at both finals. Several days after the end of Season 7, Fireburner announced he was stepping away from competitive Rocket League. Nearly a month later, it was announced that three-time RLCS champion Turbopolsa would replace Fireburner, becoming the first player to make a cross-region move from Europe to North America. Months after Turbopolsa's move to North America, NRG Esports would go on to win The Rocket League World Championship series on December 15, 2019 beating Renault Vitality with jstn scoring the winning goal.[21]

Rosters
As of February 2, 2021.
Apex Legends[22]
Nat. ID Name Position
Nafen Nathan Nguyen Lifeline & Pathfinder
rocker Aidan Grodin Wattson
sweetdreams Chris Sexton Wraith
Fortnite [23]
Nat. ID Name Position
Svennoss Sven Edelenbosch
Zayt Williams Aubin
KingRichard Richard Nelson
benjyfishy Benjy Fish
EpikWhale Shane Cotton
Unknown Domnick Green
Clix Cody Conrod
Ronaldo Ronald Mach
Hearthstone [24]
Nat. Handle Name Position
AmazHS Jason Chan
dude7597 Manny Eckert
Hafu Rumay Wang
Overwatch (as San Francisco Shock) [25]
Nat. ID Name Position
super Matthew DeLisi Tank
ChoiHyoBin Choi Hyo-bin Tank
smurf Yoo Myeong-hwan Tank
Viol2t Park Min-ki Support
Striker Kwon Nam-joo DPS
Twilight Juseok Lee Support
ta1yo Sean Taiyo Henderson DPS
FDGoD Brice Monsçavoir Support
nero Charlie Zwarg DPS
Glister Lim Gil-seong DPS
Rocket League [26]
Nat. ID Name Position
GarrettG Garrett Gordon Competitor
jstn Justin Morales Competitor
SquishyMuffinz Mariano Arruda Competitor
Sizz Emiliano Benny Coach
Valorant [27]
Nat. ID Name Position
daps Damian Steele Player
s0m Sam Oh Player
eeiu Daniel Vucenovic Player
Shanks Ryan Ngo Player
Infinite Gage Green Player
Chet Chet Singh Coach

Former divisions

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

On 23 January 2016, NRG entered CS:GO with signing the ex-Method roster.[28] 11 months later on 19 December, NRG completely changed their roster.[29] On 27 July 2017, Peter "ptr" Gurney, who was the only player remaining from the original roster, left the team, replaced by Bulgarian Cvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov a month later.[30][31] In March 2018, NRG won the iBUYPOWER Invitational Spring 2018, beating Team Liquid.[32] NRG's second victory came 5 months later in August 2018, after winning IEM Shangai 2018.[33] NRG defeated OpTic Gaming to win cs_summit 3 in November 2018.[34] On 28 February 2019, NRG signed former Cloud9 and MiBR member Tarık "tarik" Çelik to replace Jacob "FugLy" Medina.[35]

On 26 September 2019, the NRG roster was acquired by Evil Geniuses, ending the 4 year CS:GO campaign of the organization.[36]

Smite

On September 1, 2016, NRG acquired defending Smite World Champions team Panthera.[37] The team joined the organization following a hugely successful first 12 months; qualifying for Worlds as European runners up before dropping just 2 games on their way to the title. They followed this up by going 24-4 in the Spring split to qualify for the Dreamhack Masters in June, dominating the tournament and going undefeated 8-0 to be crowned Champions. The team has most recently won the 2016-2017 Smite World Champions. On December 13, 2018, NRG officially ended their Smite division.[38]

Super Smash Bros.

NRG signed New Jersey native Nairoby "Nairo" Quezada for their Super Smash Bros. division in August 2016.[39] On July 2, 2020, NRG cut ties with Nairo effective immediately due to Nairo's sexual relationship with a minor coming to light, therefore removing the only Super Smash Bros. player on their roster.[40]

Table of championships
Date Game Event Ref.
November 12, 2016 Rocket League RLCS Season 2 NA Regionals [41]
January 8, 2017 Smite Smite World Championship [42]
May 6, 2017 Rocket League RLCS Season 3 NA Regionals [43]
July 16, 2017 Rocket League FACEIT X Games [44]
June 10, 2018 Dragon Ball FighterZ Summit of Power [16]
July 29, 2018 Smite SMITE Summer Split 2018 [45]
August 6, 2018 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive IEM Shanghai 2018 [46]
October 13, 2018 Rocket League RLCS Season 6 NA Regionals [47]
November 4, 2018 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive cs_summit 3 [48]
May 11, 2019 Rocket League RLCS Season 7 NA Regionals [49]
August 18, 2019 Rocket League Rocket League Summit 1 [50]
September 9, 2019 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Mainstage 2019 [51]
September 29, 2019 Overwatch Overwatch League Playoffs [52]
December 15, 2019 Rocket League RLCS Season 8 [21]
October 10, 2020 Overwatch Overwatch League Playoffs [53]

Management

[54]

Nat. ID Name Role
Andy Andy Miller Co-Founder/Co-CEO
H3CZ Hector Rodriguez Co-CEO
Brett Brett Lautenbach President
Jaime Jaime Cohenca General Manager
Grady Grady Rains Executive Producer
David David Swartz Chief Events Officer
Mark Mark Mastrov Co-Founder
Alex Alex Rodriguez Investor/Advisor
Shaq Shaquille O'Neal Investor/Advisor
Jimmy Jimmy Rollins Investor/Advisor
Ryan Ryan Howard Investor/Advisor
JLO Jennifer Lopez Investor/Advisor
Michael Michael Strahan Investor/Advisor
Marshawn Marshawn Lynch Investor/Advisor
Tiësto Tijs Michiel Verwest Investor/Advisor

References
  1. Volk, Pete (November 16, 2015). "NRG eSports, new LCS team purchased by Sacramento Kings co-owners, announces roster". SB Nation. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  2. "Shaq, A-Rod, Rollins invest in esports team". ESPN. March 18, 2016.
  3. NRG [@nrggg] (April 20, 2018). "Tiesto invests in NRG" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. NRG [@NRGgg] (September 15, 2019). "IT'S OFFICIAL! please welcome our new co-ceo hector "HECZ" rodriguez" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. OpTic Gaming [@opticgaming] (September 15, 2019). "Joint statement from Immortals Gaming Club and Hector Rodriguez" (Tweet). Retrieved September 15, 2019 – via Twitter.
  6. "Shots Studios Signs Content, Merch Partnership With Gaming Org 'NRG Esports' (Exclusive)". www.tubefilter.com. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  7. Jack, Chelsea (February 11, 2019). "NRG Picks Up First Pro Apex Legends Player: Dizzy". Hotspawn. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  8. Geddes, George (May 26, 2019). "The Success and Demise of Apex Legends Organizations". SickOdds. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  9. Samples, Rachel (March 9, 2019). "NRG Esports adds Ace, its newest Apex Legends player". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  10. Bennett, Connor (July 12, 2019). "ESPN's Apex Legends EXP Pro-Am results and highlights - Dizzy dominates with WWE star, Dr Disrespect puts on a show". Dexerto. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  11. "Dizzy decides to retire from competitive Apex Legends and leave NRG". Daily Esports. December 11, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  12. "NRG's dizzy explains why he's retiring from professional Apex Legends". Dexerto.com. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  13. dizzy (December 10, 2019). "A New Chapter...pic.twitter.com/VqNWWYBR2z". @dizzy. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  14. "NRG completes their Apex Legends roster with signing of Frexs". Daily Esports. January 4, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  15. Rinaldi, Casey (April 19, 2018). "NRG Esports signs SuperNoon and HookGangGod for Dragon Ball FighterZ". Shoryuken. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  16. Donigan, Wyatt (June 10, 2018). "Dragon Ball FighterZ: HookGangGod Defeats SonicFox, Wins Summit of Power". Egamer News. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  17. Sildra, Zavian (July 25, 2018). "Sony Crackle and NRG Esports present "Hook'd" — a new documentary miniseries featuring Eduardo "HookGangGod" Deno". Shoryken. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  18. Walker, Dylan (August 3, 2016). "Shaq and NRG eSports sign Overwatch squad". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  19. Samples, Rachel (May 8, 2019). "NRG Esports to no longer field Overwatch Contenders team". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  20. @NRGgg (October 1, 2016). "Welcome @Fireburner_, @Sadjuni0r, and, @RL_Jacob to the family as the new NRG Rocket League team!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. Bishop, Sam (December 16, 2019). "NRG Esports are the RLCS Season 8 world champions". GameReactor UK. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  22. "NRG - Liquidpedia Apex Legends Wiki". Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  23. "NRG Esports - Liquidpedia Fortnite Wiki". Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  24. "NRG eSports - Liquidpedia Hearthstone Wiki". Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  25. "San Francisco Shock - Liquidpedia Overwatch Wiki". Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  26. "NRG - Liquidpedia Rocket League Wiki". Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  27. "NRG - Liquidpedia VALORANT Wiki". Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  28. "NRG eSports enters CS:GO, acquires ex-Method". www.thescoreesports.com.
  29. "NRG reveal new roster". HLTV.org.
  30. "ptr leaves NRG". www.thescoreesports.com.
  31. "CeRq set to join NRG". HLTV.org.
  32. "NRG sweeps Liquid to win iBP Spring Invitational". HLTV.org.
  33. Villanueva, Jamie (August 6, 2018). "NRG destroy TyLoo to win IEM Shanghai".
  34. "NRG beat OpTic in cs_summit 3 final". HLTV.org.
  35. "NRG Signs Tarik to CS:GO Roster". dbltap.com. February 28, 2019.
  36. Biazzi, Leonardo (September 26, 2019). "Evil Geniuses signs NRG's CS:GO roster".
  37. @NRGgg (September 1, 2016). "SMITE World Champions Panthera just got #NRGized!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. @NRGgg (December 13, 2018). "It was a heart-wrenching decision, but ultimately we've decided to end our legendary run in the SPL" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. Wolf, Jacob (August 23, 2016). "NRG Esports picks up Super Smash Con winner Nairo". ESPN. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  40. "This morning we were made aware of disturbing information involving Nairo. We take these situations incredibly seriously. NRG has severed all ties with Nairo". Twitter. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  41. Thompson, Luke. "RLCS S2 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP". rocketleaguegame.com. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  42. "NRG Two Time Champions". Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  43. Van Allen, Eric (May 7, 2017). "Demolition Paves Way For Rocket League Team's Clean Sweep". Kotaku. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  44. Hayward, Andrew (July 17, 2017). "This Brutal 'Rocket League' Fake-Out Helped Seal NRG's X-Games Victory". Vice. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  45. Packard, Kelly (July 30, 2018). "NRG sweeps RivaL in the SMITE Pro League Summer Finals 2018". Smite Scrub. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  46. "NRG beat TyLoo 2-0 to win IEM Shanghai". HLTV.org. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  47. Kloos, Michael (October 14, 2018). "Recap: NRG wins the RLCS Season 6 NA Regionals". Daily Esports. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  48. "NRG win cs_summit 3 over OpTic". HLTV.org. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  49. Peterson, Cole (May 12, 2019). "NRG Defeats Cloud9 to Bring Home the RLCS NA Regional Championship". Overklass. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  50. Sanders, Connor (August 22, 2019). "Winners and Losers from Rocket League Summit 1". The Game Haus. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  51. Kim, Jaemin (September 28, 2019). "Mainstage 2019: Nairo Reaches The Mountaintop". The Game Haus. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  52. Robertson, Scott (September 29, 2019). "San Francisco Shock sweeps finals to win Overwatch League Season 2 Playoffs". Dexerto. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  53. Amenabar, Tony (October 10, 2020). "San Francisco Shock beat Seoul Dynasty to become back-to-back Overwatch League champions". Washington Post. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  54. "About". NRG Esports. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
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