This year the format was open to all youth on Saturday, then the top eight played a round robin on Sunday. 25 players took part and NSW, ACT, QLD and VIC took part. Prizes were awarded thus:
Sportsmanship Award - Oriana Beecham (QLD)
Best Provisionally Rated Player - Huy Lam (NSW)
High Word Score: Eric Lam (NSW) - GRINDING - 131
High Game Score: Phi Long Ma (NSW) - 601
Highest Rating Gain (on Saturday): Kelvin Korn (NSW)
Under 10
Runner Up: Oliver Klistorner (NSW)
Winner: Lucas Luu (NSW)
Under 13
Runner Up: Jithuni Vidana (VIC)
Winner: Ryder Lo (NSW)
Finalist Medals:
Oliver Klistorner (NSW)
Eric Phan (NSW)
Kelvin Korn (NSW)
Ryder Lo (NSW)
Lucas Luu (NSW)
Final top three
Third Place: Ashwin Page (QLD)
Runner Up: Nathan Tang (NSW)
Winner: Dineth Fernando (VIC)
Australasian Open
New Zealand and Australia used to get together on Norfolk Island for friendly Scrabble competition. Later there was the ongoing Trans Tasman competition which in 2026 is in Brisbane.
2026 saw the inaugural tournament of what will become an ongoing tradition. 2026 was the turn for New Zealand to host it and 11½ Australian players took part and were very appreciative of the hospitable and welcoming NZ Scrabble community. The event was won by Howard Warner who is well known here in Australia. Adam Kretschmer was Australia's top placed player, coming third.
Play from a featured table most rounds were streamed on the Scrabble NZ YouTube Channel and the event was
WESPA rated.
The Victorian Championship had a substantial prize pool and was held at Novotel Preston. 40 players took part including visitors from New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland
See Results
Causeway Challenge
The Causeway Challenge came back bigger and better, in Thailand for the first time. There were 440 players who played 36 rounds over four days. Australians love this event and so we had 34 players there. The Causeway Champion was our own David Eldar, who has now got on top of the formidable Nigel Richards to become the number one rated Scrabble player in the world.
David Eldar Premier Champion
Other prizewinners:
Tony Hunt 8th, D divisionJyoti Chadha 6th, D divisionCaroline Polak Scowcroft 5th, E division
A nice battle between some excellent players saw Canadian Adam Logan edge ahead of David Eldar to take first place. Both of these are world champions.
Ronnie Bennett was third.
1st Adam Logan2nd David Eldar3rd Ronnie Bennett
The event was WESPA rated, and subsequently some new titles were earned, Joanne Craig became an International Master. and Ronnie Bennet and John Holgate became Masters.
See WESPA titles
The Plate section had Victoria Gates from South Australia fight her way to the top ahead of Ryder Lo who had led most of the way.
1st Victoria Gates2nd Ryder Lo
See results
Australian Women's Championship
This event took place in Canberra a few days prior to the Australian Championship.
1st Joanne Craig2nd Carmel Dodd3rd Dianne Brumby
See results
South Australia Championship
TheSouth Australia Championship was held over two days. 39 players competed.
1st Malcolm McAnulty2nd Max Mason3rd Karen Richards
Prizes were awarded down to fifth place:
1 12 +396 Malcolm McAnulty
2 11 +857 Max Mason
3 11 +675 Karen Richards
4 11 +289 Daniel Piechnick
5 11 +218 Tony Miller
plus High Game: Daniel Piechnick 587
and High word: Tony Miller TROPINES 158
The Summit Cup is a selective event for 24 players in Malta in December administered by WESPA. The
criteria
make it difficult for Australians to qualify. Race to the Summit
2026 Trans Tasman
The Trans Tasman is a biennial event where an Australian team plays a New Zealand team. In 2026 12 Australians will play 12 New Zealand players over 24 games and this will be hosted in Australia,
in Queensland.
For the first time there will be a Youth Trans Tasman alongside the adult event. Nine young Australians will play three New Zealand players over three days. There will be 22 rounds in all which is a double round robin of all 12 players, where the games of Australia vs New Zealand will count for team tallies.
