Yes, yes, he’s just eleven years old. You’re probably used to destroying kids at GameStop tournaments, but Knight Silvayne is special. He competed successfully against hundreds of entrants in his region, and then as one of the 256 semi-finalists at tournaments in NYC. Knight won the NYC semi-finals to become of the 64 Pokémon players who would win trips to compete in the Pokémon Video Game Showdown finals in Orlando, FL.

By successfully battling his way through the tournament bracket, Knight Silvayne of Chicago is now recognized by Pokémon USA as the reigning world’s champion in competitive Pokémon Diamond & Pearl in the Junior age bracket. (The championship for the Senior age bracket was won by twenty-one-year-old Izuru Yoshimura of Hoshima, Japan.)

Surprisingly, the Pokémon Video Game Showdown for Diamond & Pearl is the first officially-sanctioned global Pokémon tournament of its kind. For his victory, Knight won a six-day vacation package for four to Honolulu, New York, or Tokyo and a custom Nintendo DS. HGM had a chance to talk to Knight about the tournament, playing Pokémon games, and most importantly, how he took his Pokémon team to victory.

HGM: Which Pokémon were on your team when you won the tournament?

I used a Garchomp, Bronzong, Hippowdon, and a Metagross.

HGM: Why did you use those particular Pokémon?

I had a dream about flying pink pigs and I wondered, "what Pokémon looks like a flying pink pig?" I saw Hippopotas and said, "well, he’s not pink, and he doesn’t fly, and he’s not exactly a pig, but he’ll do!" That started the team. For real, I chose several Pokémon and tested them against other teams. I just kept mixing and matching until I had a team I thought could win.

Editor’s Note: For those of you who haven’t played Pokémon Diamond & Pearl: Hippopotas evolves into Hippowdon.

HGM: Are they favorites of yours?

If I used my favorite Pokémon... my team would have been a Purugly and a Glameow and a Purugly and a Purugly!!!

HGM: Did you give your tournament Pokémon any kind of special training?

I trained them with lots of love and care!

HGM: What were their moves and abilities?

Here are some of the moves that they had: Protect, Earthquake, Dragon Claw, Outrage, Meteor Mash, and Crunch.

As for abilities: Levitate, Sand Veil, Clear Body, and Sand Stream.

HGM: Did you catch your tournament Pokémon or breed them yourself? Were any from trades or special events?

I bred all of my team. I don’t trade except with family and most of the special event Pokémon were not allowed in the tournament because of what they were, or the level they were.

HGM: How tough was the competition in the tournament?

Whenever Pokémon does a tournament you know the competition is going to be tough.

HGM: Was winning easy or hard?

Some battles were harder than others.

HGM: Did you have fun in the tournament?

The tournament was a blast! I met people from all over the world. It was fun to watch the different strategies and test my team against them. I drove my parents crazy because I didn’t want to leave the hotel to see Disney!

HGM: Would you enter another one?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

HGM: How did you get your first Pokémon game?

My brother and I got hooked on Pokémon by watching the show. When my mother found out there was a video game, she bought Pokémon Yellow for my brother and Pokémon Blue for me. Since I was 3 and my brother was 5 we couldn’t read, so my mother played with us. I now have every Pokémon game.

HGM: How much time have you spent playing Pokémon?

More hours than my mother wants me to admit. Just my Fire Red has over 999 hours.

HGM: Do you still play Pokémon for fun?

I LOVE to play Pokémon... there are all sorts of things to do in the game besides compete: try to "catch ’em all", Pokémon contests, grow berries, make poffins, try to get shinies, go underground to collect treasure and fossils, or go underground with your friends and steal each other’s flags.

HGM: Do you like any video games besides Pokémon?

I play all sorts of video games. Some of my favorites are: Smash Bros., Animal Crossing, Geometry Wars, Pikmin, and Mario Kart.

HGM: What’s your advice to someone who wants to get serious about raising Pokémon teams for competition?

Play! Play! Play! Test your strategy against as many people as you can, think positive and have fun. And raise a ton of Purugly!!!!

We salute young Mr. Silvayne, who is clearly one of the Hardcore.

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