Long-standing Counter Strike 2 esports organization Evil Geniuses (EG) will cease operations after 25 years..

Long-standing Canadian Counter Strike 2 (CS2) esports organization Evil Geniuses (EG), announced via its official X (Twitter) account on Thursday that it will cease operations after 25 years.

According to an official statement from the organization, the e-sports sector has faced significant headwinds in recent years, including limited sponsorship opportunities and rising costs associated with competing at the highest level. Despite continued financial investment, it was ultimately determined that the business could no longer be operated in a responsible manner. Consequently, the organization will shut down on November 2.

The announcement has come as a blow to many CS fans, players, and industry professionals.

Founded in 1999, EG has a history with CS dating back to the CS 1.6 era. Under the leadership of Alexander Garfield, the organization once fielded several prominent players, including n0thing (2008–2012), Warden (2008–2009), and fRoD (2008–2011).

The organization exited the CS scene in 2012. Seven years later, following the acquisition of the brand by PEAK6, EG returned to CS by signing the roster of NRG which ranked fourth in the world at the time.

The squad went on to win titles at ESL One New York 2019 and StarLadder StarSeries Season 8.

In September 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the team even reached the number one spot in the HLTV world rankings.

However, in the years that followed, EG lost rifler Ethan, who transitioned to VALORANT, and was unable to recapture its former glory. By September 2021, the team had fallen out of the top 30 in the world rankings.

In 2022, EG launched an initiative dubbed "Blueprint" in an effort to reverse its decline. However, this 15-person roster failed to deliver any improvement in results; instead, it damaged the brand's image.

In 2023, the then-CEO, Nicole LaPointe Jameson, stepped down. The following January, under the leadership of Chris DeAppolonio, the organization withdrew from the CS scene for the second time, effectively rendering the Counter Strike 2 (CS2) club defunct.

Image source: Internet / HLTV