oSee Explains Why He Stuck With the AWP, Returns to NRG After Season on the Bench

oSee Explains Why He Stuck With the AWP, Returns to NRG After Season on the Bench

American Counter-Strike veteran Josh “oSee” Ohm has officially returned to NRG’s Counter-Strike 2 lineup, rejoining the team during the 2026 season after spending the previous half of 2025 benched.

Return to Active Competition

After being sidelined last season, oSee replaced Zack “XotiC” Elshani in NRG’s active roster during the winter break. The move marks his return to competitive action at a high level, beginning with IEM Kraków 2026, where he and NRG have already posted strong results against high-level opposition.

AWP Commitment Over Rifling

In an interview at IEM Kraków, oSee explained why he chose to resume playing as his signature AWPer rather than switch to a rifling role:

He said that although he has confidence in his rifling and communication skills, he ultimately decided against transitioning because it would be a risky shift late in his career.

oSee added that he also felt he needed a personal break during his bench period, and the AWP remains his comfort zone — the role that defines most of his professional experience.

He stated:

“What I've been doing my whole career is AWPing, and I didn't want to stray away from that in the end.”

Meta and Role in CS2

oSee acknowledged that the CS2 meta, including factors like the peeker’s advantage and the MR12 economy, makes traditional AWPing more challenging than before. Some players find long AWP saves frustrating, but he believes the sniper rifle is still crucial on many maps and in top-level play.

He also referenced how many current stars — including the likes of ZywOo, sh1ro, and m0NESY — are impactful riflers, but insisted that the AWP maintains value in modern Counter-Strike 2 when used effectively.

Confidence and Consistency

oSee highlighted that staying mentally grounded is a priority. Having struggled with inconsistency earlier in his career, he aims to approach each game the same way — avoiding overconfidence even when performing well.

Background & Career Context

oSee is a 26-year-old AWPer from the United States, widely known in the CS2 scene for his sniper prowess. Before joining NRG, he played for organizations including Liquid, where media reports previously linked him with bench decisions and roster changes.

Earlier in his career, oSee was connected with other NA teams like Cloud9, Extra Salt, and later Liquid following roster overhauls — experiences that helped establish his reputation in North American CS.

Outlook

With his return coinciding with a major event like IEM Kraków 2026, oSee’s performance in the coming months will be closely watched. His decision to stay true to the AWP reflects a career-long identity as one of North America’s most prominent snipers, even as CS2 evolves and other roles become more prominent.