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Victor was let go by NRG. He is no longer in their roster. |
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{{Infobox company
| name = NRG Esports
| logo = NRG
| logo_size =
| alt =
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}}
'''NRG Esports''' (or simply '''NRG''') is an American [[esports]] organization based in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]. It has rosters in ''[[League of Legends]]'', ''[[Overwatch (video game)|Overwatch]]'', ''[[Rocket League]]'', ''[[Valorant]]'', ''[[Counter-Strike 2]]'', ''[[Apex Legends]]'' and a number of streamers on the internet platform [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]].
== History ==
The team was founded by [[Sacramento Kings]] co-owners [[Mark Mastrov]] and [[Andy Miller (businessman)|Andy Miller]] in November 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2015/11/16/9743044/nrg-esports-roster-impact-gmb-sacramento-kings-lol|title=NRG eSports, new LCS team purchased by Sacramento Kings co-owners, announces roster|first=Pete |last=Volk |website=[[SB Nation]]|date=November 16, 2015|access-date=January 5, 2015}}</ref>
In March 2016, NRG announced that [[Alex Rodriguez]], [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Jimmy Rollins]] were joining as investors.<ref>{{cite web|url=
On April 20, 2018, [[Tiesto]] was announced as an investor.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=nrggg |number=987516496996843520 |title=Tiesto invests in NRG |author=NRG |date=2018-04-20}}</ref>
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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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shots Studios Signs Content, Merch Partnership With Gaming Org 'NRG Esports' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/08/24/shots-studios-content-merch-partnership-nrg-esports/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=www.tubefilter.com|date=August 24, 2020 }}</ref>
On
|first=Declan |date=2023-09-15 |title=NRG departs Apex Legends & blames EA for not supporting esports |url=https://www.dexerto.com/apex-legends/nrg-departs-apex-legends-blames-ea-for-not-supporting-esports-2295891 |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=Dexerto |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Labilles |first1=Justin-Ivan |title=NRG returns to Apex Legends with longtime ALGS stars |url=https://dotesports.com/apex-legends/news/nrg-returns-to-apex-legends-with-longtime-algs-stars |access-date=June 1, 2024 |work=Dot Esports |date=May 30, 2024}}</ref>
On May 6, 2024, the Esports World Cup Foundation, funded by the [[Saudi Arabia]] [[Public Investment Fund]] and organizers of the Esports World Cup tournament series, announced the 30 organizations (known in the ESWC as Clubs) who would make up the Club Support Program, with NRG being one of them. This program gives teams a one-time six-figure stipend if an organization is willing to enter new esports as well as additional funding each year if they drive viewership and fan engagement to the Esports World Cup.<ref name=Fudge>{{cite news |last1=Fudge |first1=James |title=30 Teams Selected for the Esports World Cup Club Support Program |url=https://esportsadvocate.net/2024/05/30-teams-selected-for-the-esports-world-cup-club-support-program/ |access-date=May 9, 2024 |work=The Esports Advocate |date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jack |first1=Chelsea |title=NRG Picks Up First Pro Apex Legends Player: Dizzy |url=https://www.hotspawn.com/nrg-picks-up-first-pro-apex-legends-player-dizzy/ |access-date=October 4, 2019 |work=Hotspawn |date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> The team signed Brandon "Aceu" Winn and Marshall "Mohr" Mohr in March and May, respectively, to round out its three-player squad.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Geddes |first1=George |title=The Success and Demise of Apex Legends Organizations |url=https://sickodds.com/news/the-success-and-demise-of-apex-legends-organizations |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=SickOdds |date=May 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Samples |first1=Rachel |title=NRG Esports adds Ace, its newest Apex Legends player |url=https://dotesports.com/apex-legends/news/nrg-esports-adds-ace-its-newest-apex-legends-player |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=Dot Esports |date=March 9, 2019}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Connor |title=ESPN's Apex Legends EXP Pro-Am results and highlights - Dizzy dominates with WWE star, Dr Disrespect puts on a show |url=https://www.dexerto.com/apex-legends/apex-legends-espn-pro-am-results-dizzy-dominates-798189 |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=Dexerto |date=July 12, 2019}}</ref> Following the retirement of Dizzy in December 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyesports.gg/dizzy-decides-to-retire-from-competitive-apex-legends-and-leave-nrg/|title=Dizzy decides to retire from competitive Apex Legends and leave NRG|date=2019-12-11|website=Daily Esports|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25|archive-date=February 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225205901/https://www.dailyesports.gg/dizzy-decides-to-retire-from-competitive-apex-legends-and-leave-nrg/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dexerto.com/apex-legends/nrg-dizzy-retires-competitive-apex-legends-new-focus-1298419|title=NRG's dizzy explains why he's retiring from professional Apex Legends|website=Dexerto.com|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/dizzy/status/1204551645868306433|title=A New Chapter...pic.twitter.com/VqNWWYBR2z|last=dizzy|date=2019-12-10|website=@dizzy|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> the team picked up their new talent Joseph "Frexs" Sanchez in the beginning of January, about a month later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyesports.gg/nrg-completes-their-apex-legends-roster-with-signing-of-frexs/|title=NRG completes their Apex Legends roster with signing of Frexs|date=2020-01-04|website=Daily Esports|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116080958/https://www.dailyesports.gg/nrg-completes-their-apex-legends-roster-with-signing-of-frexs/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 23, 2022, after the ALGS 2022: Championship, Aidan "rocker" Grodin announced his departure from the team. On August 13, the team signed Dennis "Gilderson" Zachary as their third teammate.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://esports.gg/news/apex-legends/gildersons-joins-nrg-completes-incredible-rise-to-top-of-apex/ | title=Gildersons joins NRG, completes incredible rise to top of Apex | date=August 12, 2022 }}</ref> On September 15, 2023 NRG announced their departure from Apex Legends.
On May 30, 2024, NRG announced the signing of the roster of ohNocturnal, FunFPS and reptar, once again reforming a roster under NRG.
=== ''League of Legends'' ===
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=== ''Overwatch'' ===
{{main|San Francisco Shock}}
On August 3, 2016, NRG signed the members of the former ''[[Overwatch (video game)|Overwatch]]'' team from [[Luminosity Gaming]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Dylan |url=https://esports.yahoo.com/shaq-and-nrg-esports-sign-overwatch-squad-181226374.html |title=Shaq and NRG eSports sign Overwatch squad |date=August 3, 2016 |work=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=October 4, 2019}}</ref> NRG
On May 31, 2024, after orgless team Students of the Game lost their first round matchup in the [[Overwatch Champions Series]] Dallas Major to [[Spacestation Gaming]], it was announced that NRG had signed the roster, which would compete under the name NRG Shock, in reference to the former San Francisco Shock Overwatch League team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Knudsen |first=Connor |date=May 31, 2024 |title=NRG Shock enter OWCS with former Students of the Game roster |url=https://esports.gg/news/overwatch/nrg-shock-enter-owcs-with-former-students-of-the-game-roster/ |access-date=May 31, 2024 |work=Esports.gg}}</ref> It is important to note that the signing of this roster may have been funded thanks to the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program, of which NRG is a member, and may have been influenced by a poll NRG did on their [[Twitter|X]] account that allowed fans to select which esport NRG would reenter.<ref name=Fudge/>
===''Rocket League''===
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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, NRG legend Fireburner announced he was stepping away from competitive Rocket League. Nearly a month later, it was announced that three-time RLCS champion Turbopolsa, a member of the same Dignitas team that defeated NRG for the world title in season 5, 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 finally go on to win the Rocket League World Championship series on December 15, 2019, beating Renault Vitality in a seven-game Grand Finals with jstn scoring the winning goal in overtime. They would then drop Turbopolsa in order to sign SquishyMuffinz, a player coming from the recently disbanded team Cloud9. With this roster, they went on to win RLCS X North American Championship, and lose in the Grand Finals of Fall Major RLCS 11 to Team BDS.
NRG qualified for the Winter Major as the number 1 seed from NA, they went 1-2 in groups and were placed in the lower bracket against the eventual runner ups Team Queso, which they lost. NRG failed to qualify for the Spring Major, this was the first time NRG failed to qualify for an RLCS international LAN, but they qualified for the RLCS 2021-2022 Finals wildcard in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]. Although they failed to qualify for the Spring Major they still had enough points to qualify for the Main Event in Fort Worth. Following Version 1's loss against [[Moist Esports]], NRG qualified for the Main Event in Fort Worth as the 3rd seed from North America.<ref name="RLCS 8">{{cite news |last1=Bishop |first1=Sam |title=NRG Esports are the RLCS Season 8 world champions |url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/nrg-esports-are-the-rlcs-season-8-world-champions/ |access-date=December 18, 2019 |work=GameReactor UK |date=December 16, 2019}}</ref>
===''Valorant''===
On
On September 14, 2023, s0m announced his departure after his nearly three-year stint with NRG, opting to pursue streaming in the meantime. On September 19, 2023, FNS announced his departure, believing he was no longer a "correct fit" for the roster <ref>{{Cite web |title= How NRG Was Eliminated {{!}} VALORANT Champions 2023 VLOG |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYL5RbHJ4bc&ab_channel=NRGVALORANT |website=youtube.com |access-date=2024-01-25 |language=en}}</ref> and likewise pursuing streaming. On October 11, 2023, ardiis was signed to [[Natus Vincere]], reuniting with his teammates from 2022. <ref>{{Cite web |title= NEW NAVI PLAYER: BACK IN ACTION |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXambaHBsM0&ab_channel=NAVIVALORANT |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=youtube.com |language=en}}</ref> On December 23, 2023, NRG announced the signing of 2023 Valorant Champions winners Max “Demon1” Mazanov and Ethan “Ethan” Arnold, as well as Jimmy "Marved" Nguyen who also competed under the OpTic Gaming core. <ref>{{Cite web |title= This is NRG Valorant 2024 |url= https://twitter.com/NRGgg/status/1738620534408232990 |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=x.com |date= December 23, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> On July 16. 2024 Victor and Chet were let go by NRG management. They are currently trying to find a replacement for Chet. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Victor |title=NRG roster changes |url=https://twitter.com/NRGgg/status/1813000597773205983 |access-date= July 27, 2024 |agency=NRG |publisher=N/A |date=July 24, 2024}}</ref>
===''Counter-Strike 2''===
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== Former divisions ==
=== ''Counter-Strike: Global Offensive'' ===
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=== ''Dragon Ball FighterZ'' ===
NRG entered the Dragon Ball FighterZ scene in 2018 with the signing of Eduardo "HookGangGod" Deno.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rinaldi |first1=Casey |title=NRG Esports signs SuperNoon and HookGangGod for Dragon Ball FighterZ |url=http://shoryuken.com/2018/04/19/nrg-esports-signs-supernoon-and-hookganggod-for-dragon-ball-fighterz/ |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=Shoryuken |date=April 19, 2018 |archive-date=October 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018004924/http://shoryuken.com/2018/04/19/nrg-esports-signs-supernoon-and-hookganggod-for-dragon-ball-fighterz/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> His first win under the NRG banner was at Summit of Power 2018 where he took down [[SonicFox]] to take the title. Eduardo was also featured in his very own docuseries on [[Sony Crackle]] called "Hook'D". The 4-part series featured a cameo appearance from Shaquille O'Neal and debuted on July 27, 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sildra |first1=Zavian |title=Sony Crackle and NRG Esports present "Hook'd" — a new documentary miniseries featuring Eduardo "HookGangGod" Deno |url=http://shoryuken.com/2018/07/25/sony-crackle-and-nrg-esports-present-hookd-a-new-documentary-miniseries-featuring-eduardo-hookganggod-deno/ |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=Shoryken |date=July 25, 2018 |archive-date=October 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018004916/http://shoryuken.com/2018/07/25/sony-crackle-and-nrg-esports-present-hookd-a-new-documentary-miniseries-featuring-eduardo-hookganggod-deno/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> NRG released HookGangGod on January 13, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Michael |first1=Cale |title=NRG releases Dragon Ball FighterZ veteran HookGangGod |url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/nrg-releases-dragon-ball-fighterz-veteran-hookganggod |access-date=March 14, 2021 |work=Dot Esports |date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>
=== ''Smite'' ===
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{{Esports player | handle = Palafox | first = Cristian | last = Palafox | nat = USA}}
{{Esports player | handle = FBI | first = Ian Victor | last = Huang | nat = AUS}}
{{Esports player | handle =
| ''Rocket League'' |
{{Esports player | handle = GarrettG | first = Garrett | last = Gordon | nat = USA}}
{{Esports player | handle = mist | first = Nick | last = Costello | nat = USA}}
{{Esports player | handle =
| first = Kenneth | last = Walz | nat = USA}}▼
| ''Valorant'' |
{{Esports player | handle = crashies | first = Austin | last = Roberts | nat = US}}
{{Esports player | handle =
{{Esports player | handle =
{{Esports player | handle = Demon1 | first = Max | last = Mazanov | nat = US| sub= yes}}
| ''Counter-Strike 2'' |
{{Esports player | handle = Brehze | first = Vincent | last = Cayonte | nat = US}}
{{Esports player | handle =
{{Esports player | handle =
{{Esports player | handle = HexT | first = Jadan | last = Postma | nat = CA}}
{{Esports player | handle = oSee | first = Josh | last = Ohm | nat = US}}
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