A 14-year-old gamer who fancies himself as the David Beckham of computer game competitions has been unsuccessful in his efforts to get Irish insurance companies to insure his most precious assets – his fingertips – for €250,000.
Leading insurance companies Hibernian, Quinn Direct and Canada Life were left stunned when 14-year-old Blanchardstown local Niall O’Gorman, an avid gamer, contacted them with his unusual request. While rock musicians and singers are known to insure their hands and vocal chords, the request from a teenage computer gamer is unprecedented.
An executive from Quinn Direct commented: “This is something we have never heard of before, so we are really dumbfounded.”
O’Gorman has won several computer competitions over the last few years and most recently won the Irish leg of the Nokia N-Gage Challenge in Blanchardstown. He will represent Ireland in the N-Gage Finals in Paris on 4 October, where he will showcase his skills at Tony Hawk Pro Skater against the best gamers from across Europe.
O’Gorman commented: “From an early age I have always been into computer games. When the new Nokia N-Gage came along, I decided to take part in the Irish N-Gage Challenge. I couldn’t believe it when I came first and won a place to represent my country in Paris next October.
“My goal is to be the David Beckham of computer game competitions so insuring my fingertips seems like the best way to secure this dream,” he said.
By John Kennedy
