IT IS a popular card game that has been enjoyed by many for decades.
But for one nine-year-old schoolgirl, her skills of the game of Top Trumps has seen her succeed at a national competition.
This weekend, Katia Silva travels to London hoping to take the title of UK Top Trumps Champion.
The Elloughton girl has emerged from 50,000 UK primary school children in the heats to make the elite final 12, who will compete at London toy store Hamleys.
She said: "I'm really excited about going to London and being in the final.
"I've been doing loads of practicing with school friends.
"I think I am going to win as I'm going to try my hardest.
"We are also going to go shopping so I might get some more Top Trumps."
During heats, Katia emerged as second in the whole country and the top girl – which is not bad for someone who only started playing the game in March.
The Elloughton Primary School pupil said: "My teacher introduced me to the game.
"I never thought I'd reach the final when I started playing.
"I like the game because I like learning new stuff in the world.
"All my friends are really proud and have been giving me Top Trumps cards."
At the final, Katia will take on youngsters aged from 8 to 11 from all over the UK, including children from Scotland and Wales.
As she is the only East Yorkshire player in the final, she is the official regional Top Trumps champion already.
Katie Costello, her teacher, said: "The whole school is delighted for Katia.
"She has shown massive commitment to the tournament and we wish her all the best in the final."
At the grand final Katia and 11 other youngster will compete on a Turbo version of Top Trumps. The children will contest each other using many different themed packs of the game.
The event will take place on the third floor of Hamleys' store in Regent Street in London's West End.
For the first time the Top Trumps Schools Tournament, which is in its fifth year – will be a public event so people can watch the final unfold live on the shop floor.
All 12 finalists will be given a goodie bag of prizes at the end, including lots of Top Trumps goodies.
The champion will get a trophy and a VIP ride on the London Eye.
Fiona Hortopp, who manages and runs the Top Trumps Schools Tournament for Winning Moves UK, said: "Very many congratulations to Katia.
"She is a winner already – not only East Yorkshire's Top Trumps champion but to make it to the final dozen from about 50,000 children is some feat.
"In the heats, she was the top girl of any youngster in the UK and the top English player. She is now one of the favourites in the grand final.
"We wish Katia all the very best for Saturday."
The game was launched in 1977 and has gone from strength to strength. It is now played all over the world.
Each pack is based on a theme, such as cars, aircraft, dinosaurs or characters from a popular film or television series.
Each card contains a list of numerical data, and the aim of the game is to compare these values in order to try to trump and win an opponent's card.
Fiona said: "Heads and teachers are seeing the advantage of bringing in Top Trumps as a teaching tool inside the classroom.
"Children not only improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills playing Top Trumps, but they also deepen their knowledge on the subject matter covered in the pack.
"The better you know the pack, the better chance you have of winning the game."
In 2011, Hedon schoolboy Luke Andrews also competed in the Top Trumps UK Champion grand final, which was also held in London.
Visit www.toptrumpstournament.com for more information.
