Pakistani wins Late Bird tournament in World Scrabble Championship

Muhammad Inayatullah, a Pakistani scrabble player, has clinched victory at the main event of the World Scrabble Championship (WESPAC), which ended on Tuesday.

The tournament was held in Las Vegas, United States, from July 21 to 25.

Inayatullah claimed a win in the championship's Late Bird tournament, which was a one-day event and was in sizzling form, winning all of his games in a very strong field.

The Pakistani scrabble player began his day beating former world champion Joel Wapnick of Canada and remained the only unbeaten player in the tournament. Meanwhile, Ade Tomiwa of Nigeria finished second in the global competition.

The third position, however, was claimed by England's Sumbul Siddiqui — a Pakistani immigrant who migrated to the United Kingdom a few years ago.

Sumbul was the only female player to win a position at the championship this year.

Australia's David Eldar and Harshan Lambadasurya from England will play in the final of the premier category in the tournament. Pakistan's Waseem Khatri, on the other hand, has finished in the 33rd position.

Ahead of the championship, Khatri was off to flying colours in the Early Bird tournament after he claimed a win and became the only Pakistani to do so. Last year, Waseem finished second in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Hammad Hadi Khan has won in the Diamond category with three games to go.

Hadi, who previously won the Princess Cup in Thailand in 2017 and the open division of the World Scrabble Championship in England in 2018, won 21 out of 24 games to win the Diamonds category.