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December 25, 2012

12-year-old Pokemon champ hails from Noble

By Jocelyn Pedersen The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — After a full day of Pokemon Trading Card Game play at the Pokemon City Championships in Oklahoma City, Gage Herrington, 12, of Noble emerged as the first-place winner in the senior division earning the title, a trophy and Championship Points toward earning an invitation to the Pokemon World Championships in Vancouver, B.C.

“Mostly I got lucky and I practiced,” Herrington said. “I practice with my dad and (sister) Kimberly.”

Gage’s sister, Kimberly Herrington, 9, recently joined her brother at a tournament in Jenks where each won first place in their respective age brackets. Proud of her win, Kimberly polished her trophy during the interview.

Several tournament types comprise each Pokemon season, which starts immediately after the world competition each year. To qualify for world competition, players must earn 400 points. Gage and Kimberly Herrington have earned approximately 150 and 130 points, respectively.

“They're well on their way,” David Herrington, Gage and Kimberly's dad and coach said. “If they do well at state, they'll be most of the way there.”

This year, world completion is likely to be stiffer. David Herrington said last year, only 25 contestants per age group competed at world, but this year there will be no cap per age group, encouraging a larger influx of players.

“The idea is to open worlds up a bit and make it a bigger event,” David Herrington said.

Noble hosted the city championship event in November and David Herrington, who helped to organize it, says he hopes to do so again next year.

Pokémon Premier Events are sanctioned by The Pokémon Company International and locally managed by Premier Tournament Organizers who run hundreds of Pokémon TCG and video game tournaments every year throughout North America.

Collectively they oversee tens of thousands of Pokémon competitors who train and compete at various local league events and sanctioned tournaments on their quest to become a Pokémon World Champion.

“Pokémon City Championships are special because they are a great way for both new and veteran players to come together and compete in a game they really enjoy,” said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “The Oklahoma City-area had a strong turnout of Pokémon TCG players and we're excited to follow these local players as they continue to battle throughout the season, perhaps making it to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships in Vancouver.”

To learn more about Pokemon or how to join a local league, visit www.pokemon.com.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

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