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Lo Hoi-ying

Edith Lin

A 16-year-old boy has become Hong Kong’s latest world champion, not at the Olympic Games, but in Pokemon Go.
Cheng Yip-kai, who plays under the username Yekai0904, secured the title on Sunday at the Pokemon World Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii, becoming the first Hongkonger to do so.
He beat his Dutch opponent Martijn Versteeg, or Inadequance, 3-1 and took home the US$20,000 (HK$155,760) prize.
Cheng’s triumph came less than a year after another Hong Kong team won a silver medal in esports at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
The mobile game Pokemon Go pits players against one another in battles, each with a set of three Pokemon characters. Players tap on the screen to attack with different gestures and gain points by knocking out their opponents.

🎊 ATTENTION TRAINERS 🎊
Yekai0904 is officially your #PokemonGO 2024 World Champion! 🏆 #PokemonWorlds pic.twitter.com/j8hgapV6WM
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) August 18, 2024

In a post-match interview, Cheng said he still “could not believe” he had won.
“When I attended my first world championship last year, I met many famous players in real life and hoped I could follow in their footsteps one day,” he said.
“I still have not calmed down and am very excited about the win.”
He thanked his aunt for accompanying him to the United States and his Hong Kong teammates for crowdfunding HK$5,000 to pay for his trip.
Organisers had sponsored his flights and hotel accommodation, which he said lightened the financial burden.
He also said he was grateful to the audience in Hong Kong and Taiwan for staying up late to watch the finals live, despite the time difference.
Players who took part in the championship could compete in four different categories – trading card game, video game, Pokemon Go and Pokemon Unite.
To be invited to the tournament, players must earn enough points by competing in local competitions around the world throughout the year.
Last year, Cheng competed in his first world championship in Yokohama, Japan. Without funding from the government, Cheng and four others managed to represent Hong Kong through crowdfunding efforts.
Among those who helped finance their trip was renowned liver expert Dr Lai Ching-lung, emeritus professor and honorary clinical professor at the University of Hong Kong, and a Pokemon Go enthusiast.
The team, however, was eliminated in the preliminary rounds due to a lack of experience against other international players.
Cheng said at the time he was concerned his mother would stop him from taking part in the championship due to the lack of funding.

The team members also said they had been negatively judged by others who had the impression that the game, which became an instant hit when it was launched in 2016, was only played by older people.
Sam Cheung Lok-hang, who manages the Hong Kong representatives, said on Tuesday the team had faced many challenges, especially financially, to pave the way for Cheng to become world champion.
Cheung’s zealous quest for funding began when five qualifying trainers – another name for game players – gave up their spots at the world championship two years ago as they had no financial support.
Cheung, a full-time English teacher, said that in the past two years he had knocked on the doors of many companies asking for cash or sponsorships for them, but was met with harsh criticism.
“They asked me, ‘Why do I deserve their support? What is there to gain?’ I didn’t know how to answer them,” said Cheung, a Pokemon Go enthusiast himself.
“I told them the Hong Kong team has a very high chance of winning, but no one would listen because there were no results.”
While Cheung said he believed that getting more sponsorships would now be easier, he hoped Hongkongers would continue to show their support for Cheng and others representing the city in future competitions.
“Cheng and the rest of the players are bringing glory to Hong Kong as representatives who won the title match by match through their own efforts,” he said.
Lai told the Post Cheng’s team had reached out to him for support when they competed in Japan last year and he had sponsored them with HK$10,000, while the team bought many Pokemon-related products for him.
Cheng did not approach him this year, Lai added, saying he believed the player was reluctant to do so having lost in 2023.
The medical expert expressed happiness about Cheng’s victory and said he hoped the public would continue to support the players.
“I hope the public can support them playing harmless games that do not require much time,” Lai said. “Of course, it is important to study. But they can still play games in their spare time. It does not matter.”
Last year, a five-man team from Hong Kong won the silver medal in esports for the battle arena game, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, during the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Due to a lack of major tournaments and funding, the team pursues esports, which made its debut as an official medal event last year, only on a part-time basis.
Their coach said then that the city’s esports events were often one-off and urged the government to take the first step in organising a regular tournament in Hong Kong and providing funding to train more professionals.
By contrast, mainland China and Korea are home to major video games companies that have established resources for esports.
China won four esports gold medals in seven matches at the Asian Games, despite the government’s crackdown on youth addiction to gaming in recent years.
The Chinese sports administration officially listed esports as a formally competitive sport in 2003 and has held a National Electronic Sports Tournament annually since 2012.
This year’s tournament, to be held in Beijing for the first time, will take place later this month.
According to Statista Market Insights, the global esports market is expected to reach a revenue of US$4.3 billion in 2024.
As for Cheng, who starts Form Six in September, he has returned to Hong Kong and faces a week full of tests in school before he can start gaming again.


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Hong Kong society

Cheng Yip-kai, 16, becomes first Hongkonger to win Pokemon Go World Championships

Cheng Yip-kai, 16, has won the Pokemon World Championships. Photo: Pokemon Company

Cheng Yip-kai beat his Dutch opponent Martijn Versteeg 3-1. Photo: Pokemon Company

‘I’m not perfect,’ says Hong Kong’s Vivian Kong as she tearfully recalls Olympic stress as world’s No 1

Vivian Kong (second right) poses with fencers from the team at the Hangzhou Chenjinglun Sports School.  Photo: Lo Hoi-ying

Vivian Kong with students joining the “Rise and Strive” programme. Photo: Lo Hoi-ying

Chinese Olympic gold medallists Wang twins to begin PhDs in Hong Kong in September

Gold medallists Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi celebrate after securing gold in Paris. Photo: AFP

Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi have scholarships for being outstanding athletes. Photo: Xinhua

News

Hong Kong

Society

Cheng Yip-kai, or Yekai0904, clinched the title after defeating Martijn Versteeg, or Inadequance, 3-1


Cheng Yip-kai, or Yekai0904, clinched the title on Sunday after defeating Martijn Versteeg, or Inadequance, 3-1.


Esports

Video gaming

Mobile gaming

Hong Kong culture