Daps opens up on stepping into active playing role for NRG at the Budapest Major

Daps opens up on stepping into active playing role for NRG at the Budapest Major

Canadian coach-stand-in Damian “daps” Steele has revealed how he personally increased his playing workload in recent weeks to be ready for a surprise role with NRG at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 — and how that may be paying off as NRG storm into a 2-0 record to begin Stage 1.

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Background & context

NRG entered the Major with daps stepping in as the fifth player, after Nick “nitr0” Cannella was unable to attend due to the birth of his child. 
Despite minimal boot-camp time and a modest practice schedule (“scrimmed every map twice, minimum”), daps said the overall environment and communication within the team are the key factors keeping them competitive. 

On day one of Stage 1, NRG defeated both Ninjas in Pyjamas (13-7) and FaZe (13-10), the latter being a significant upset given FaZe’s pre-Major status. 

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Daps’ personal preparation

When asked when he realised he would actually be playing at the Major, daps said:

“Around the last Fragadelphia we went to, a couple of weeks ago, at that point, we kind of knew that I would play. … I’d say I started playing a lot more actively the last two weeks, just pugging, DMing and practicing my utility so I don’t miss things [laughs]. I’d say that’s the timeline.” 

He also explained that although the team had explored other substitute options when it became clear nitr0 would not attend, ultimately the practical reality was that any external substitute wouldn’t have had time or prep to integrate with the team.

“Even if we had gotten a sub who is individually better than me, they’re not going to practice with us because we're prioritising Fragadelphia and the ESL Pro League qualifier.” 

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Early Major performance & outlook

NRG’s strong start — two wins in the 1-0 Swiss bracket — comes despite being under-dog status. NRG were ranked #35 worldwide by HLTV, whereas FaZe held #13 at the time. 

daps acknowledged that best-of-three matches ahead will pose deeper tests:

“Bo3s will definitely show more cracks in our team. But as long as we’re keeping the energy positive and our comms are good, we have a chance against anybody.” 
He emphasised that the current team cohesion and atmosphere are the primary strengths driving NRG’s performance at the event.

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Key implications

• The switch of daps into an active player role shows NRG’s flexibility and willingness to adapt despite unplanned roster changes.

• His personal ramp-up of in-game activity (pugs, DM, utility practice) signals a mindset shift: from coach to dual role of coach/player.

• The early success validates that even minimal preparation (scrims only twice per map) can yield results if team morale and communication are strong.

• Looking ahead, the transition to Bo3s and later stages will be a true measure of NRG’s depth and resilience under pressure.

• For the broader CS2 ecosystem, this is another example of an established coach stepping into a player role in-tournament — something which may become more frequent given dynamic roster situations.

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Final thoughts

While it’s still early days in the Budapest Major, NRG’s 2-0 start under daps’ in-game participation is a noteworthy storyline. The Canadian’s deliberate decision to actively play more in the lead-up has helped him stay sharp and focused. The real test now will be maintaining that momentum as the tournament progresses and opponents adjust.