In a historic moment for Indian Scrabble, 14-year-old Madhav Gopal Kamath from Delhi has become the first Indian to win the prestigious World Youth Scrabble Championship (WYSC). The victory came at the 20th edition of the annual tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Kamath outplayed 218 young competitors from 18 nations.
Kamath secured his title with a dominant performance, finishing with an impressive 21 wins from 24 rounds. His win not only marks a personal milestone but also a significant one for India, which has been steadily rising in the world of mind sports.
Already recognized as India’s youngest national champion, Kamath’s triumph on the global stage validates the country’s growing stature in the sport. He is currently ranked 8th in the world across all age groups and is expected to climb even higher following this victory.
The 12-member Indian contingent at the WYSC, supported by the Essar Foundation, delivered a strong overall performance. Bengaluru’s Suyash Manchali, last year’s runner-up, finished in fifth place.
In a statement, the Scrabble Association of India’s President, Harvinderjit Bhatia, hailed the win as a “historic milestone for Indian Scrabble and a proud moment for the entire community.” Kamath, who started playing at the age of six, has expressed his hope that his victory will inspire many more young players in India to take up the game and believe they can compete at the highest level.
