Nigel Richards, otherwise known as “the Tiger Woods of Scrabble”, the Kiwi man who dominated this year’s World Spanish Scrabble Championship, despite not speaking the language.
The scrabble prodigy took home the title in Grenada last month Reuters reported, once again showcasing his uncanny ability to outperform native speakers in their own languages.
Benjamín Olaizola, who came second to Richards, told Spanish radio network La Cadena SER that Richards was a “gifted man” with “very specific capabilities” and the whole thing was an “incredible humiliation”.
Richards, who is in his 50s, bested more than 145 opponents from across the world, including Argentina, Venezuela, Spain and Colombia, winning 22 consecutive matches.
Widely known as “the GOAT of Scrabble” Richards has won nearly 200 tournaments, including multiple world titles, and is ranked No. 1 by the World English-language Scrabble Player’s Association.
Richards first came on the Scrabble scene in 2015 when he won the French title, when he reportedly knew little beyond the word “Bonjour”.
Richards rarely gives interviews. He is characterised in the media as a recluse, who likes to bike, and doesn’t smoke, drink, watch TV or listen to the radio, really just locked in and married to the game.
Photo Credit: People Magazine
