Monrovia—In an exciting conclusion to Scrabble Mania 2.0 held at Boulevard Palace, Ghana’s Charles Tachie-Menson emerged victorious, clinching the top prize of USD 1,000 after defeating 35 competitors in an impressive performance. The tournament, which ran for three days, marked its second edition and for the first time included ten international players from Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
By: Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
Tachie-Menson, who previously finished 8th in the 2024 World Scrabble Championship in the US, proved his prowess by winning 23 of 30 games, reaffirming his status as a top contender in the scrabble community. He succeeded Liberian Samuel Kallon, the winner of the inaugural tournament in April 2019, who relinquished his crown after an impressive run.
Despite Tachie-Menson’s victory, Liberia dominated the tournament’s prize allocation. Jonathon Wesley secured second place with a cash prize of USD 700, while Malek Sheriff claimed third with USD 400. Liberia’s champion, Lemuel Gibson, finished fourth, earning USD 225, and Fred Kantan surprised many by finishing fifth with a prize of USD 175.
During the closing ceremony, Assistant Minister for Sports Murvee Gray expressed the Liberian government’s support for the scrabble community, highlighting a recent allocation of USD 5,000 in the draft budget for 2025 to support scrabble activities. “We want to thank everyone, including the organizers, for staging such a successful, glamorous event without prior government support,” Gray stated. “Your self-sufficiency demonstrates why we are committed to supporting scrabble in Liberia.”
In a noteworthy announcement, Lester Morris, President of the National Scrabble Association of Liberia (NASAL), revealed that Liberia intends to officially bid to host the 2026 African Scrabble Championship (ASC). He assured attendees that their bid would be compelling enough for the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) to accept. “This tournament was a success, and we plan to enhance the experience in the next edition, raising the prize pool to USD 5,000,” Morris said.
He also shared his ambition to offer a USD 7,000 star prize for the ASC, along with additional incentives to attract participants. During the recent tournament, which featured 30 rounds, a total of USD 3,000 in cash prizes and trophies were awarded to the top finishers, supported by sponsors including NASSCORP, NPA, Carocolet Farm, and Boulevard Palace.
Although Liberians did not secure the overall champion title, the nation had a strong showing with seven players finishing in the prize list, including Jonathon Wesley and Malek Sheriff, who both finished with 19 wins but differed in spread scores. Kallon, the former champion, and other competitors rounded out the top ten, showcasing the growing talent within the sport in Liberia and the region.
