11-year-old heads to Pokemon World Championship

Eleven-year-old Declan Peers is preparing to compete in the Pokemon World Championships in America. The tournament will take place in San Francisco at the end of August, marking Declan's third appearance at the world championships. He started playing the game at the age of eight and will be competing in the 12-year-old and under division with around 350-400 other players.

Declan's mother, Fiona, expresses her pride in her son, who has held two medals from previous championships. Declan has loved the 1990s Japanese invention since he was three years old and was discovered at his local club at the age of eight. He has since played in numerous Pokémon league cups and challenges across the UK. Fiona recalls how they taught Declan how to play and eventually got him into the championships.

The game combines elements of chess and poker, requiring players to build a 60-card deck and take all their prize cards by knocking out their opponent's Pokémon. Declan has already traveled to major international tournaments, including France, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic, where he reached the semi-finals and finished as a finalist in regional championships.

Although winning is important, Declan is primarily excited to see his friends and experience the sense of community within the Pokémon world.