Children take part in Beyblade competition in Ranchi. Picture by Ashok Karan

Ranchi, Jan. 15: A spinning top has caught the fancy of children in a way few things have and that includes Harry Potter and his world of wizardry.

Called the Beyblade, the toy has become the favourite plaything for boys, at home as well as in school.

Inspired by the animation series on Cartoon Network featuring four boys who come together and form the Blade Breakers, the customised top has pullers and launchers that set the Beyblades in motion and knock opponents down.

Keeping hundreds of boys busy is the toy whose top is like a space shuttle as they ready to battle at the ?stadium?, a plastic tray with an uneven surface, letting out the war cry, ?let it rip?! The cost of the fantasy fight: anywhere between Rs 249 to Rs 649.

There are more than 26 varieties of Beyblades targeted at the 5-to-14 age group.

Playhouse Galaxy, which retails the toys marketed by Funskool, said there must be more than 1,000 Beyblade runners in the city as the store itself has sold that many since July last year.

Cashing in on the popularity of the toys, Playhouse today organised a Beyblade competition in the city, at which around 250 children took part.

The competitors were first divided into age groups and the battle was held for two challengers. The runner whose top spun for the longer duration was declared the winner. The winners from the different age groups had to battle each other to decide the overall champion.

Ankit Singh of Delhi Public School won the first prize, Deep Poddar of DAV, Gandhinagar, had to settle for second slot and Argha Bramha of DAV, Hehal, stood third.

?We wanted to engage the children in fun and games. We are elated by the response,? said Playhouse Galaxy?s proprietor Arun Dewan.

Sumit, an eight-year-old, has three Beyblades and pesters his father for more. He spent the weekend with his prized possession and planned stadium strategy for the Sunday showdown.

?All my classmates have Beyblades and they have a match during break-time. I have recently bought a Dranzer because I do not want anybody to survive in front of me,? Sumit said.

In the world of Beyblades, if Dranzer gives bursting power early in the battle for those who want to go for the kill, Wolberg provides a balance of attack and defence, Draciel has defence rings for those who want to play it safe.

Dewan promised more such events for Blade Breakers in the future. He also said plans were on for a Barbie and Hot Wheel competition in February. ?In that, children can dress as Barbie and prizes would given for that,? he said.