TI6 champions – Wings Gaming makes no changes in roster

Wings Gaming will not make any changes heading into the Fall Major 2016 season. The TI6 championship team has decided to keep their roster intact. All Chinese teams had agreed to clear out all of the rosters during the drop period – resulting in all players having to be actively re-added to teams during the second stage ‘add’ process. Li “iceice” Peng was the last of the five Chinese superstars to join the team only hours ago – confirming their intended lineup.

The TI6 championship team that won over hearts around the world – Wings Gaming has officially decided to keep their roster intact for the upcoming Fall Major 2016 season.

Although it would seem that championship teams would want to continue on their winning path, it has not always been the case in the last two years.

TI4 Champions – Newbee saw captain Chen “Hao” Zhihao go ‘inactive’ following the event. The TI5 Champions – Evil Geniuses shocked the world when they removed Kurtis “Aui_2000” Ling from the lineup almost immediately following. Team Secret initiated another epic reshuffle when they released Omar “w33” Aliwi and Rasmus “MiSeRy” Filipsen only four days before the rosters become locked for the Manila Major and The International 6 – less than three weeks after winning the Shanghai Major.

Just like their approach to the meta and their play style – Wings Gaming has chosen to march to the beat of a different drummer and do things their own way – by staying together in the post TI shuffle. They are the only roster formed in during the post TI5 shuffle to still be together.

From unknowns to infamous in the course of one year, the Chinese stars soared above the rest to bring a tale of comradery, innovation and passion to the stage.

Their immense hero pool, unconventional strategies and drafts and mechanical prowess only just start to scratch the surface of what stands out most watching these talents players. Communication, rotation, synergy and teamwork are superior and on point, leaving little room for opponents to find openings and knock down their high spirits and flow.

Wings Gaming

Wings Gaming was formed in August 2014, but after TI5, the roster made a 100% turnover and has welcomed all new players. The team has stuck together ever since.

These Chinese sensations have only just begun their professional Dota 2 careers between March 2014 and January 2015. For Zhou “bLink” Yang, Zhang “Faith_bian” Ruida and Zhang “Innocence” Liping that journey would begin together with Speed Gaming – a place they would call home together until moving to Wings in August 2015.

Chu “Shadow” Zeyu had started only shortly after – around the time of TI5, trying various teams in the region out as he sought his place.

Meanwhile Li “iceice” Peng was a known pubstar brought into the professional scene by Zhang “xiao8” Ning as part of the team Big God in January 2015. iceice was a rookie on the team of famed and beloved retired players from Team DK, Newbee, and Vici Gaming – xiao8, BurNIng, rOtk, LaNm. Those two months, although having little achievements to show, were invaluable for a new player’s experience and exposure.

At the end of August 2015 the current and infamous Wings Gaming roster was born.

They took 4th at WCA 2015, where they demonstrated impressive skill and talent and began to win over fans worldwide. They were the first team to take two games from Team Secret in the group stage of the event and quickly made a name for themselves.

Having minimal official games on record, they did manage to stun many when they snatched the Chinese qualifier spot for ESL One Manila by sweeping Vici Gaming Reborn, 3-0. The Chinese then team made a clean sweep over Team Liquid, 3:0, in the Grand Finals -to walk away with their first championship title as a team and the $100,000 first place prize.

The team was directly invited to the Manila Major where they had a disappointing finish taking 13-16th place. Their next premier LAN event – Nanyang Dota 2 Championships Season 2 brought back to the forefront the infamous drafting and strategies that Wings became known for and an astounding second place finish.

They then amazed fans around the world once again when they outplayed OG 3:1 in the grand finals of The Summit 5 for the trophy and title.

Their greatest accomplishment being TI6.

By upsetting the TI5 champions – Evil Geniuses and sending them to the lower brackets, Wings Gaming had become the first team to advance to the Grand Finals and secure themselves a top two finish overall. They overpowered Digital Chaos 3:1 for a spectacular finish and crowning achievement.

Wings Gaming roster:

Zhou “bLink” Yang
Zhang “bian” Ruida
Chu “Shadow” Zeyu
Zhang “Innocence” Yiping
Li “iceice” Peng