TO most Chinese game players, Blizzard Entertainment’s “Defense of the Ancients 2,” commonly known as DotA 2, is a game that can kill most, if not all, their spare time.

But to Wings, an electronic sports team based in Chongqing, DotA 2 is their career, their dream and their future.

The team of five members, whose average age is 19, recently won the championship at the annual international DotA 2 tournament held in Seattle. Their prize money was US$9.12 million.

Zhou Yang, 24, whose game ID is “bLink,” is the eldest member of the team. He has been engaged in electronic sports since college.

“We formed the team because we acknowledge each other’s strengths,” he said. “Each of us is good at a different position, and together we’re strong.”

The Seattle appearance was the first time Wings participated in the International 2016 competition, which attracted the top DotA 2 teams from around the world.

The team’s journey to the top wasn’t smooth. Although they often narrowly squeaked into knockout matches, they maintained their cool determination.

“We were slow starters, I guess,” said Zhou. “We didn’t get into a groove in the beginning, but once we got the feeling, we just played better and better.”

Digital Chaos, a US team and Wings rival, said the Chinese team was hard to figure out. US team member Aliwi Omar said the team was sometimes strong and sometimes weak. It was impossible, he said, to “guess what they’re thinking.”

That’s not an unusual opinion of the Wings. They have a different playing style from most teams. Their core characteristic is their flexible use of the “heroes” in the game.

DOTA 2 is a real-time battle strategy game.

A team comprised of five players controls an army bent on destroying constructions called “Ancient.”

The game also bears the typical role-playing game features, or the hero building. Players can control heroes with different powers and battle skills to lead the army better. In the battle, players can also collect experience, money and items for the heroes so they can increase their power and strength.

Usually a team builds and controls a limited number of heroes, but Wings has a big pool of them ­— 20 to be precise. In every game, they deploy different ones. Team strategy changes frequently.

Some fans call the Wings “unorthodox.” They wear that tag proudly.

“The key point of our style is to ban and pick up the heroes,” said Zhou. “We call it ‘BP’ in DotA 2. We still have some problems when making decisions, but with more experience, we’re getting better.”

Before the Seattle competition, the Wings competed in a Los Angeles tournament called Summit 5. It was their first international appearance. Before that, they were considered a “B-list team.” Their screen names were relativity unknown in the world of DotA 2 players.

Wings was formed in 2014. The team didn’t make it to the final tables of international competition in 2015. But that didn’t daunt them.

At their training base in Chongqing, they lead an army-style life. Practice: six days a week, eight to 10 hours a day. Living in a dormitory: no smoking, no alcohol, no girlfriends. Lights out: by 11:30pm sharp.

“We have never felt that our life was constrictive or tiresome,” said Zhou. “We love playing DotA 2, and we were happy to be together and tackle all challenges.”

Their hardworking didn’t stop even when they won the championship at Summit 5. After the final, while other teams were celebrating or drinking their sorrows away, Wings gathered to watch the game videos to identify weak spots for improvement.

“To us, it was more important to get ready for the future than to celebrate what we had already gained,” said Zhou.

After Los Angeles game, the team decided to stay in the US for further training ahead of the Seattle competition.

“It was not as happy as people might think,” Zhou said. “Two of our team members caught colds, and we really missed Chinese food. Fortunately, our manager found a Chinese supermarket that helped solved that problem.”

The team has now broken for a one-month holiday.

Hai Tao, an electronic sports commentator, said the success of Wings was a milestone in Chinese electronic sports. But that doesn’t mean the road ahead will be easy.

Chinese teams have actually achieved more than in the past, but usually a team doesn’t go further after winning a championship. He said he thinks that is because young people get “lost” in fame.

“They are young,” he said. “Their life is preoccupied by games and nothing else. Suddenly they win a huge pile of money, and that brings temptations. I hope the Wings will be an exception and go on to achieve more.”

Zhou and his team don’t seem overly concerned. “This is different from just playing a game,” he said.

“It is the challenge to physical strength and intelligence. It is a serious career that we want to follow. Besides, there is nothing that makes me happier than playing DotA 2 with my buddies.”

About DotA 2

“Defense of the Ancients 2” (DotA 2) currently is the most popular online game in the world.

As a stand-alone sequel to “Defense of the Ancients (DotA),” it’s a mod for “Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos” and its extension pack “The Frozen Throne.”

Released in 2013, DotA not only inherits the “essence” of its prequel, but it also keeps an open mind so that players can create their own maps, playing modes and appearances for heroes.

Most players share their creations on Steam Workshop, an online hub for releasing player-created game content.

Now DotA 2 is the most actively played game on Steam, a worldwide game delivery platform.

Players said that the DotA series is not only popular, but its players are probably the most loyal of all.

Many players in China first became acquainted with DotA when they were in high school or college, and continued DotA 2 after graduation and even marriage and children.

“The DotA series is a game that you don’t just leave behind and turn to other games,” said Liang Xiaobo, who has been playing the series for more than 10 years.

“Even if you really don’t have time to play it anymore, you’ll still follow the news and the tournaments, and sometimes you’ll still watch the game videos.”