WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. (WTAP) – Luke Giffen, an 11-year-old from Williamstown, has become an international Pokémon champion four years after he began collecting cards.
Luke now holds two regional titles and one international championship.
“It was my last time to break into and say that I’m one of the top players in the season,” Luke said.
Luke said he has gained math and critical thinking skills from playing the game over the years.
“Any hand can win, you just have to know how to strategize,” Luke said.
Chad Giffen, Luke’s dad, said Pokémon helped his son learn how to read.
“Through this whole journey, like for instance, like he was learning to read whenever he started playing the game. So playing the game really helped him learn how to read and his math skills are kind of bar none and big parts of that come from the game because so much of the game is all about math,” Chad Giffen said.
Luke has competed in Brazil, London and recently returned home from a win in New Orleans. His favorite place has been Hawaii.
“Hawaii has been my favorite. We got to explore the island of Honolulu and I think that I really like that because it was also my first worlds and I met a bunch of great people there, and I didn’t really do the best at that tournament, but exploring Hawaii and meeting new people was really fun,” Luke said.
Chad Giffen said players remain friends even when someone loses.
“Everyone loves the game. Everyone’s there to play, and yet they do realize that there’s going to be a winner and there’s going to be a loser. And it’s okay,” Chad Giffin said.
Luke spends at least three hours a day practicing his skills. His next competition is in San Francisco in August for the world competition. He will meet with friends at 740 Hobby to continue testing his skills.
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