Gordon Hoi, final year student of the Diploma in Information Technology, emerged Champion in Starcraft at the World Cyber Games 2005 Singapore Championship held at Suntec City between 8 -11 September. Gordon is no new comer to gaming or to winning. He was 7 years old when he first got hooked on chess games and then he moved on to games like Red Alert, Doom, Diablo and finally to Starcraft when he was about eleven.

In 2001, Gordon participated in his first World Cyber Games Singapore (WCG SG) Competition. He was knocked out in the first round! Undaunted, Gordon, entered for the WCG SG the following year and this time he came in 1st runner-up. In 2003, Gordon was Champion in Starcraft and won a ticket to Korea. Finally this year, 2005, Gordon has once again succeeded in outwitting his opponents to emerge champion.

He refers to Starcraft as the only game he is really familiar with and confesses that he did not expect to win this year. He prepares for the games by practicing with people who have the same level of skill that he has.

Asked about the concerns that people have expressed regarding the addictive nature of gaming, Gordon was quick to dismiss this believing instead that it all boils down to time management. ‘We must learn to set out priorities,’ says Gordon who is practicing hard now for the next lap of the Grand Final of the WCG to be held at Suntec City Convention Centre from 16-20 November 2005. 800 gamers from around the world are expected to converge in Singapore for the games. Gordon expects to face fierce competition, especially from the Koreans whom he says consider Starcraft their professional e-sports.

Asked how gaming has contributed to his overall development, Gordon had this to say: ‘Well it has helped me to think better in stressful situations and makes me more observant and alert.’

All the best to you, Gordon!