A 14-year-old Indian boy has made history in the world of Scrabble! Madhav Gopal Kamath from Delhi has become the first Indian to win the prestigious 2025 World Youth Scrabble Championship. This incredible achievement puts India on the global map for youth Scrabble talent.
Madhav, who is India’s top-ranked Scrabble player and national champion, competed against 217 young players from 18 countries in the 20th edition of the tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organized by the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA), the event showcased the best under-18 Scrabble talent around the world.
Madhav’s performance was outstanding. He finished with 21 wins out of 24 rounds, clinching the title just before the final moments of the tournament. His victory marks a historic milestone for Indian Scrabble fans and players, who are celebrating this proud moment.
India sent a strong team of 12 young Scrabble players, mentored by coach Neeta Bhatia from Mumbai. Among them was 15-year-old Suyash Manchali from Bengaluru, who finished in fifth place with 17 wins. Suyash was the runner-up last year at the championship in Sri Lanka, showing India’s consistent strength in youth Scrabble.
The Indian team’s success was supported by the Essar Foundation, in partnership with the Scrabble Association of India (SAI) and Wordaholix. Harvinderjit Bhatia, President of SAI, called Madhav’s win a “historic milestone,” highlighting India’s growing presence in global Scrabble. He also expressed gratitude to the Essar Foundation for backing young talent.
An Essar Foundation spokesperson shared their pride, saying, “We are thrilled about Madhav’s victory. We believe sports, including mind sports like Scrabble, can inspire and bring people together. Supporting young players like Madhav helps nurture talent and builds opportunities for the next generation.”
Madhav, who began playing Scrabble at age six, expressed his joy: “Winning a world title as the first Indian is a dream come true. I’m thankful to my family, coaches, and teammates. I hope this motivates other young Indians to believe in themselves and aim for the top.”
Earlier this year, Madhav made headlines when he became the youngest-ever national Scrabble champion in Mumbai. He is currently ranked 8th in the world for all ages, and this victory is a huge boost for youth Scrabble in India.
His success is expected to inspire many more young players across the country. As Scrabble gains popularity in India, Madhav’s achievement shows the immense potential of Indian youth in this mind sport.
The Scrabble Association of India also thanked everyone who helped make this possible, including partner organizations like Assembly Travel and Black Panther, which designed the team jerseys.
This historic win not only brings pride to India but also encourages more kids to pick up Scrabble and compete at the international level.
