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To most people Scrabble might seem a fun game to break out during the summer holidays, but for Alastair Richards it’s serious business. Richards has been playing Scrabble since he was five years old, and playing in tournaments since he was seven.
Earlier this month, the Auckland-based doctor took the prestigious title of World Scrabble Champion, after an nail-biting standoff with Australian player David Elgar, the lead seesawing as the two men played ‘best of seven’. Richards prevailed in the final game with a score of 406 to 393.
Richards is the second New Zealand player to take the world’s premier Scrabble title, it has previously been held by Malaysia-based player Nigel Richards (no relation), who has won the event five times.