World Junior Scrabble: Imaad becomes youngest champion

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Syed Imaad Ali, who is just 13 years old, has become the youngest player ever to triumph in the Junior World Scrabble Championship at Torquay, England.

Imaad maintained his lead throughout the championship and was declared the champion with one match to go with a 17-3 record and a spread of 2159, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.

He is only the second player in history to have won both the World Youth Scrabble Championship (now renamed WESPA Youth Cup) and the Junior World Scrabble Championship. The first was compatriot Moiz Baig.

Pakistani players dominated the championship and walked away with trophies and the top five positions.

Daniyal Sanaullah won the runners-up trophy with 15 wins and a spread of 1335 while Hassan Hadi finished third with 15 wins and a spread of 1024. Sohaib Sanaullah and Hammad Hadi finished fourth and fifth, respectively. The age category titles went to Pakistan’s Taha Mirza (U18), England’s Rory Kemp (U16); Pakistan’s Saim Waqar (U14), Pakistan’s Monis Khan (U12) and Misbahur Rehman (U10).

Moiz Baig and Waseem Khatri will join the team on Wednesday (today) for the seniors event of the championship.