WHAT A CARD. Master Pokémon warrior (and local 10-year-old) Keith Olsen
wieghs his options at The District Co. in downtown Eau Claire.

The Olsens were shocked when their 10-year-old son, Keith turned a simple “it’s-all-part-of-growing-up” Pokémon card hobby into something much, much more.

Ranked fifth in the US and 25th best on Earth at playing Pokémon, Keith is not exactly your average kid from Altoona. Keith plays every Sunday at a Pokémon card league with other local players here in Eau Claire at The District Co. – most of the other players are much older than he is – and because Keith is a voracious, smart player, his parents have had to quickly adapt during tournament time.

“I helped him initially, but then he found the league on his own,” said his dad, Craig. “Then he wanted to go to nationals and we thought it would be a fun family vacation so we went. I didn’t think we’d finish in the top eight to qualify for worlds. All of a sudden, he finishes fifth and away we go. We had no idea.”

“I have a sister. But she doesn’t like to play, so usually, I just build two decks and just play myself.”– 10-year-old Pokémon champ Keith Olsen can’t find someone he can’t beat

Keith’s an energetic, smart young kid who can make your Charizard beg for mercy, and he brings that enthusiasm to the local scene, giving it an extra spark.

“Keith is a fantastic person to have around because of his personality,” said Andrew Reynolds, the organizer of the local league. “He’s very friendly and he keeps everybody lively. We like to joke with him. He brings energy to the league.”

We sat down with Keith at The District Co. to talk strategy, intimidation, and the upcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships in Boston in August.

Eric Christenson (V1): When I was a kid, I used to play Pokémon cards. I’d play with my brother and stuff, but I never played in a tournament, so tell me what that’s like.

Keith Olsen: The tournaments are where you go and you try to get championship points. If you get enough championship points, you get qualified for the world championships.

And you got enough?

Yeah.

This will be your second time going to the world championships?

Yeah.

Where was your first one?

In Washington, D.C.

How’d you do there?

I got 25th in the world and fifth in the USA.

Whoa, 25th in the whole world?

Yeah.

Do you feel special?

Yeah.

Is it weird?

Yeah.

Why?

I never knew I’d get that far.

Those tournaments sounds intense. That kind of pressure would make me nervous, personally. Do you get nervous? How do you get ready?

I get really nervous. To get ready, it’s just practice. I have a lot to practice. I practice here at the league and at my house.

Who do you play with at your house? Do you have siblings?

Yes, I have a sister. But she doesn’t like to play, so usually, I just build two decks and just play myself.

You know, they say that really good chess players, the only way they can lose is if they play themselves.

(Laughs) Yeah.

So what makes you a good player? I don’t imagine it can all be luck.

No, I first just felt like I liked it, then I practiced it and I changed it around to how I like it.

How many tournaments have you been in?

Ummmm…

Too many to count?

Eight.

And you’ve done pretty well there? What do you usually win?

I win packs for free. Like in the World Championship I got two booster boxes, with 36 packs.

In each of them?

Yeah, to buy one is like $100. That’s how I got most of my cards.

So you already have great cards, obviously, then they just give you more amazing cards?

Well, I trade for some cards.

Keith Olsen and his Pokemon bling.

Do you play with a lot of kids your age? Is it a lot of older people? Younger people?

I play with mostly older people.

Is that intimidating?

I don’t know.

Do you usually beat them?

Sometimes.

You don’t get intimidated by them just cause they’re older, right?

No.

That’s good. What’s your strategy?

... what’s my strategy?

Yeah, like what kind of cards do you try to get right away? You go fast and hit ’em hard?

Yup.

Do you have a favorite card?

No.

Well, what’s the rarest one that you have? Mine was a holographic Blastoise.

Mine is probably “Champions Festival.” It’s a world championship promo that only the people who compete in the world championships get.

Really? You have exclusive cards that no one else gets?

Yeah.

What does the card do?

It’s pretty bad.

(Laughs) What do you mean?

Well, before, they used to give out a really, really, really good card, but not anymore.

So you’re gonna compete in August in Boston at the world championships. Are you excited?

Yeah.

You think you’re gonna do better this year? How good do you think you’ll do?

I hope so. I wanna take first.

What do you get if you win the world championship?

The winner gets a $25,000 scholarship, they get two booster boxes for each new set coming out in the year, the complete set of the last four sets that came out, and a free trip to next year’s world championship. You automatically get to go.

So what gets you excited about Pokémon cards? What makes them fun for you?

I sometimes play against surprise decks that I’ve never heard of before. Some people play with really weird decks. I like not knowing. I’ve made friends, too. I get to see my friends that I barely ever see.

 ~ The End ~