Japan’s 11-year-old e-sports competitor Yuki Kurihara made a striking debut at the Asian Games on Thursday, demonstrating remarkable skill and composure as he advanced in the Puyo Puyo Champions tournament. Kurihara, the youngest athlete representing host nation Japan in the history of the Games, secured a top position in Group A, defeating several older and more experienced opponents.

Competing in Nagoya, Kurihara, a primary school student known for his distinctive glasses and youthful demeanor, won all four of his matches in the group stage. His final match of the morning saw him sweep Yu Wing Lim, a 28-year-old player from Hong Kong, with a 3-0 victory. The puzzle game Puyo Puyo Champions challenges players to clear their screens by aligning and popping colored blobs, and Kurihara’s performance demonstrated a high level of strategic thinking and fast reflexes.

The young competitor attributes part of his success to a traditional pre-match ritual of eating eel, which he says helps prepare him for contests. His impressive showing quickly captured the attention of fans both at the venue and online, generating widespread acclaim on social media platforms. Supporters praised his skill and charisma, with comments highlighting his potential and enthusiasm.

Kurihara is now set to compete for the gold medal, aiming to add further achievements to his unprecedented participation at the continental multi-sport event. His emergence underscores a growing recognition of e-sports as a competitive discipline and showcases the increasing participation of younger athletes in the field.