An 11-year-old card player is hoping he can trump his remaining rivals to become the UK champion of a popular card game.

Ashley Todd, of Irthington, near Brampton, has beaten thousands of youngsters across the country to qualify for the National Top Trumps Schools Tournament final, which takes place in Birmingham today.

The determined youngster, a pupil at Irthington Village School, became his school champ before he competed nationally online against about 125,000 others, aged six to 11.

Due to a family holiday in Spain, Ashley had a week away from the computer and didn’t expect to get into the top 12 table so it was a shock to go back to school to find out where he’d been placed.

The game – which has been hailed as a learning tool and is used in classrooms, as well as played in playgrounds, around the world – was invented in 1977 and since then numerous variations of it have emerged.

Packs are based on many different topics – from science to superheroes and celebrities to creepy crawlies. It involves players picking categories and earning cards by winning with the best or highest value in the categories. The aim is to win all the cards and players need to have a very keen memory as well as be an extremely fast absorber of facts and stats.

He’s made the journey to today’s final with his parents Fiona and Richard and sister Amelia, who helped him with some last-minute practice.

“I am really excited,” said Ashley. “I will try my best to play well, but will enjoy it whatever the outcome. It’s just a great experience.”

Ashley’s proud mum Fiona said: “I was absolutely over the moon when he won at school this year and I wasn’t expecting him to get to the final when he played online because he kept it very low-key. He wasn’t making out like he had a chance of getting through, so I was gobsmacked when he made the final.

“He’s very competitive. Anything he does he likes to win so I knew he would be absolutely chuffed to pieces.”

It is the fourth time Irthington School has taken part in the contest, which is now in its seventh year, but is the first time they have had a grand finalist to support.

“We are extremely pleased for Ashley,” said Key Stage two teacher Simon Bulmer. “Having a national finalist this year will be a big boost for the children in the school.

“It proves that everyone has a chance if they try hard and get a bit of luck along the way.”

The tournament is themed around space as the final is staged at Birmingham’s iconic Thinktank Science Museum.

Event organiser Claire Simon from Winning Moves UK, who own and produce Top Trumps, wished Ashley the best of luck for the final.

Ms Simon said: “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.”

If he comes out on top Ashley will bring home a trophy as well as a new iPad and other exciting prizes.