Nick “nitr0” Cannella has come back into the professional Counter-Strike scene signing with NRG Esports. He will be replacing Colby “Walco” Walsh who has parted ways with the organization with Nitr0 now taking over the in-game leader position.

Nitr0 retired from the professional scene last year after IEM Dallas 2023 and left Liquid after being apart of the team for nine years with a year and a half retirement in between his stints where he would go and play another first-person shooter professionally in VALORANT.

Nitr0 would join M80 on their Valorant team until he stepped away from the team on June 5th. He was linked to joining M80’s Counter-Strike team until talks fell through leading the American to NRG.

“We are thrilled to welcome nitr0 to our team,” said NRG in a statement following the signing. Nitr0 will be joining with his former teammate Josh “oSee” Ohm and coach Damian “daps” Steele who he played with while on Liquid.

NRG is bringing in Nitr0 as a veteran presence to young players like oSee and Jadan “HexT” Postma who have been the two best performers on the squad the past few months.

NRG has struggled the past few months to show any meaningful placements being unable to qualify for Thunderpick World Championship 2024 and having a lackluster showing in the ESL Challenger League Season 47 North America. They finished off the season by qualifying for the BLAST Fall Showdown by winning the Ace North American Masters.

The North American region is still open for a team to rise above the rest to become the best in the entire region. NRG is hoping this change will elevate them to the next level and put them at the top of the totem pole for North American Counter Strike.