In just a little more than two years since taking up the game, a B.C. man with autism has become the top-ranked pinball player in Canada, and now he's setting his sights on the world of poker.
Burnaby resident Robert Gagno, 22, is ranked 19th in the world and has trophies from across North America for pinball, a game that he plays like a chess master.
"I just plan the routes out. I visualize the best possible routes to get the big points," he told CTV News.
"I can see the angles ahead of time."
Robert lives with autism, a disorder that left him speechless until the age of six. But he says that what makes him different also makes him a master of pinball strategy.
"It can be maybe because part of my brain works differently than others," he said when asked to explain why he's so good at the game.
"Never underestimate anyone who has learning outcomes ... or never judge a book by its cover, they say."
His father Maurizio nurtured Robert's love of the game, making room for seven machines in his garage.
"I'm very proud of him. He accomplished a lot in a very short period of time," Maurizio said.
Now Robert is trying his hand at poker, rocketing up to an 11th-place ranking in B.C. after just two-and-a-half months of playing.
"He wants to be a poker champion, and he wants to work in TV and he wants to be in movies," his dad said.
For Robert, it's all about determination. "I believe you can succeed at anything you put your mind to," he said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Bhinder Sajan
