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Carrie Chan

Hong Kong representatives, who were ranked 14th overall among 52 countries in the world championships of the card game Magic, said their  two-week stay in Berlin, Germany, was more fruitful than they had imagined.

Po Leung Kuk No 1 College fifth-former Thomas Jim Shun, 16, said he never expected to come 74th among 350 players in the trading-card game.

'This is the first time I have participated in an  international game. I originally thought I wouldn't finish in the top  100,' said the youngest of the three Hong Kong representatives.  'I was so excited at meeting the participants from around the world  in person after seeing their names on the Internet.'

Thomas  said he learned how to calm down while building up his own deck of pre-selected cards for moves like attacking,  healing and reducing opponents' score to zero.

'I could not afford to be agitated in any circumstances,' he said. 'Even when I was picked on by other teammates, I could not be unduly affected  by their comments.'

The teenager  said he especially enjoyed playing in a team with other representatives  because 'they could share the happiness''.

Thomas,  who started playing the decade-old game two years ago, said he was becoming more confident in using his skills.

'I could not tell you how my skills have improved,' he said. 'But as I get back to the game again, I feel so much more at ease, and have a strong sense of winning.'

Hong Kong Polytechnic University  student Kingston Tong King-yim, 21, said he was satisfied with being rated  103rd  in the same game and had learned much more about card combinations. He added that he was impressed by the outstanding performances of teams from Japan, Germany and the United States.

'I was  astonished that their  national teams were so  united. The US players did well because their country invented the game, Germany had their own professional team, and Japan had many more representatives. Hong Kong does not have these qualities, and I  think I will not be able to  play this game forever,' said Mr Tong. He said he would have to spend less time  on the game because he was in  the second year of his university studies.



That's Magic! Hong Kong wizards play their cards right