With the number of yo-yo champions showing up at Toy Fair, one could be forgiven for thinking it was the site of the European Championship. But no, that’s the following weekend (30–31 January) in Prague. What’s bringing all these great players to Toy Fair? It’s the launch, by Esdevium Games, of the YoYoFactory line of performance yo-yos!

Four world-class yo-yo players will be on the Esdevium stand all day Tuesday, 26 January, showing off just what they—and their YoYoFactory yo-yos—can do. Expect some incredible tricks as these guys show off the technological advantages of YoYoFactory’s great line. A focus on practical innovation has made YoYoFactory the world’s premier yo-yo manufacturer.

On Tuesday at 11:30, Ben McPhee will attempt to break a world yo-yo record. He and the other champions will be busy showing off their tricks throughout the rest of Tuesday, with Ben and Craig Squires also spinning a trick or two through Wednesday and Thursday as well.

2009 World Champion Kentaro Kimura is one of the most beloved players on the planet, with friends on every continent. “I like to go to the contests, for seeing friends I can not see often. I also like food and when I go to a new city I like to eat all local foods. I will eat anything, snake, scorpion, whatever.” In play his style and skill are amongst the best ever seen, and his win at the 2009 World Yo-Yo Contest supports many peoples’ claims that he is the greatest 3A player of all time.

Vashek Kroutil shot to yo-yo fame with some of the most popular yo-yo YouTube videos of all time. He backed this up with three straight Czech national titles and solid top-15 places at the World Yo-Yo Contest in the USA. This January he hopes to add a European title to his resume at the 1st European Championship, which will be held in Prague the weekend following Toy Fair.

Hailing from the beaches of Australia, Ben McPhee has put his surfboard wax aside to travel the world as a yo-yo professional. He has placed in the top 5 at the world level before transitioning to a development role and also a designer of high performance yo-yos.

He has assembled the greatest collection of yo-yo players on the planet for the YoYoFactory Contest Team. Under his leadership they have taken victories on every corner of the planet using yo-yos he has designed. These champions have captured World Titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Ben still performs on promotional tours and occasionally takes to the contest arena. In 2010 he aims to visit over 12 international contests, set a new world record and place in the top 5 in at least one major tournament.

“Push the limits. New tricks, new styles of play, innovative yoyo design. That's what gives me passion for the sport.”

Craig Squires was the 1998 UK National Champion. Since then he has appeared on many UK television shows, including Blue Peter, CDUK, MTV, The Disney Channel. Craig has also taken part in promotions in France, the USA, and Germany.

For further information, images and samples please contact: Emma Arthur,
Esdevium Games Press Office, Norton & Co.
Tel: 01608 812830
Email: emma@nortonandco.com