Scrabble winner wows the French

A NEW ZEALANDER who speaks no French has won the French-language Scrabble world championship by memorising an entire dictionary.

Nigel Richards, a former English-language world title winner, defeated a rival from French-speaking Gabon, in west Africa, at the final in Louvain, Belgium.

Mr Richards, 48, reportedly memorised a French Scrabble dictionary in the nine weeks before the tournament. He won the English world championship in 2007 and 2011. He began playing only at the age of 28, picking it up from his mother, a secretary. An incredulous French-speaking audience gave him a standing ovation after he won the French title. “Francophone Scrabble entered a new dimension,” said enthusiast Kévin Meng.