Orlando Sentinel - Lil Poison's got mad game

"His shirt hangs on him like a tent and falls well below his kneecaps. And when Victor De Leon III sits down, he positions himself on the edge of the chair so his size 2 feet can touch the ground.

He's 8 years old and very much a little boy -- cherub face and all.

But put a video-game controller in his hand, and Victor becomes larger than life. He becomes Lil Poison.

Known internationally as the world's youngest professional video gamer, Lil Poison has become a bit of an icon.

It's the last weekend in August, and Victor is in town for a Major League Gaming event at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. Fans corner him, watch his every move and point him out to friends as they would a big-time celebrity.

"I think he's awesome," says 19-year-old Jeffry Marculaitis.

Lil Poison -- standing 4 feet tall -- eats it up.

Following in dad's footsteps

Many people don't believe it when Victor's father, Victor De Leon Jr., says his son has been playing video games since age 2. It started as a way to keep the boy from crying when his mom went to work: He would hand little Victor a controller to keep him quiet.

But soon the boy realized the controller's movements corresponded to action on the television. He watched what his dad did and mimicked him. Then came his curiosity.
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/lifestyle/orl-kidgamer06sep03,0,5701979.story?page=1

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