Madhav Kamath Creates History: First Indian to Win World Youth Scrabble Title
Introduction
India has a new world champion — and this time, not in cricket or chess, but in the mind-stimulating game of Scrabble. Fourteen-year-old Madhav Gopal Kamath from Delhi has become the first Indian ever to win the World Youth Scrabble Championship (WYSC), marking a proud moment for the nation. The victory came at the 20th edition of WYSC 2025, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Madhav defeated the world’s best young players with 21 wins out of 24 rounds.
This milestone is not just a personal triumph for Madhav but also a breakthrough for India in a game that demands vocabulary power, strategy, and quick thinking.
The Historic Win in Kuala Lumpur
The WYSC 2025 brought together 218 under-18 players from 18 countries. Competing against such a strong international field, Madhav showed consistency and focus, clinching the title in the penultimate round itself.
- Final Score: 21 wins out of 24
- Venue: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Achievement: First Indian to win any major global Scrabble title
Interestingly, Madhav ended his final game with the word “Bae”, a fun reminder that even the simplest words can decide big championships.
Another Indian in the Top 5
India’s strength in Scrabble was further highlighted by 15-year-old Suyash Manchali from Bengaluru, who secured 5th place with 17 wins. In the 2024 edition of the championship held in Sri Lanka, Suyash secured the runner-up position.
Together, Madhav and Suyash proved that Indian players are no longer outsiders in the world Scrabble community.
Support System Behind the Victory
India sent a 12-member youth team to WYSC 2025, with support from the Essar Foundation, the Scrabble Association of India (SAI), and Wordaholix.
Speaking after his win, Madhav said:
“To be the first Indian to win a world Scrabble title is a dream come true. “I hope this win motivates more youngsters in India to explore Scrabble and believe that they too can perform on the global stage,” said Madhav. Meanwhile, SAI President Harvinderjit Bhatia described the achievement as a ‘landmark moment,’ highlighting the years of dedication invested in nurturing Scrabble in the country.
SAI President Harvinderjit Bhatia hailed the win as a “historic milestone,” highlighting the years of dedication that went into building Scrabble in India.
Who is Madhav Gopal Kamath?
- Age: 14 years
- City: Delhi
- School: Sanskriti School, Chanakyapuri
- Current World Ranking: 8th (across all age groups)
- He became the youngest player in India to win the 25th National Scrabble Championship, held in Mumbai in 2025.
- Coach: Neeta Bhatia (Mumbai-based)
- Started Playing: At the age of 5, introduced by his father and uncle
Madhav’s journey reflects how early exposure, family encouragement, and strong mentorship can shape a world champion.
A Brief History of Scrabble
- Inventor: Alfred Mosher Butts (1931), originally called Lexico
- Later Names: “Criss-Cross Words” → finally “Scrabble”
- Gameplay: Between 2 and 4 players take turns placing letter tiles to build words on a 15×15 grid board.
- Objective: The aim is to score the maximum points by creating connected words, just like a crossword.
Scrabble is now played in 121 countries and has its own governing body — World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA).
Scrabble in India
The Scrabble Association of India (SAI) came into existence in 2004, with its headquarters in Mumbai.:
- First All India Tournament held in Goa (2004)
- Scrabble enthusiasts can find active playing hubs in major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune.
- Indian players are consistently climbing international rankings
Madhav’s world title win is expected to spark greater interest in schools and colleges, much like the chess boom after Viswanathan Anand’s world titles.
Why This News Matters for Competitive Exams
Current affairs for exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, and State PSCs often include achievements in sports, especially when India makes history at the global level.
Key exam-relevant facts:
- Winner: Madhav Gopal Kamath (14, Delhi)
- Title: First Indian to win World Youth Scrabble Championship (2025)
- Event: 20th WYSC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Record: 21 wins out of 24 rounds
- Runner-up (India): Suyash Manchali – 5th place
- Association: Scrabble Association of India (Founded 2004, Mumbai)
This achievement may also be asked in GK, sports awareness, and personality-based questions.
Trivia / Fun Facts
📌 The highest possible score for a single word in Scrabble is 1778 points for the word “oxyphenbutazone.”
📌 The game is sold in 29 languages, with over 150 million sets worldwide.
📌 In 2004, Scrabble was one of the official games onboard the International Space Station (ISS).
FAQs on Madhav Kamath’s Victory
Q1. Who became the first Indian to win the World Youth Scrabble Championship?
👉 Madhav Gopal Kamath, 14-year-old from Delhi.
Q2. Where was WYSC 2025 held?
👉 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Q3. How many wins did Madhav secure to clinch the title?
👉 21 wins out of 24 rounds.
Q4. Who represented India along with Madhav?
👉 A 12-member team, including Bengaluru’s Suyash Manchali (5th place).
Q5. When was Scrabble invented and by whom?
👉 In 1931 by Alfred Mosher Butts, an American architect.
Q6. What is Madhav’s school and current world ranking?
👉 Sanskriti School, Chanakyapuri; ranked 8th worldwide across all age groups.
Q7. Which organization governs global Scrabble tournaments?
👉 World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA).
Conclusion
Madhav Gopal Kamath’s victory is more than just a personal achievement; it is a turning point for Indian Scrabble. With discipline, talent, and support, this teenager has shown that India can excel even in niche global games.
As more youngsters get inspired by Madhav’s story, India’s presence in world mind sports is only set to grow. Like every winning word on the board, this triumph spells out a message: dream big, prepare hard, and you too can make history.
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