13-year-old Aussie wins world Scrabble title

A 13-year-old boy from Melbourne has become the world youth Scrabble champion, winning the 2026 title in Nairobi. Dineth Fernando played 24 games against over 130 opponents from 15 countries to claim the prize.

Dineth is the third Australian representative to win the world youth Scrabble championships. He moved to Melbourne from Sri Lanka six months ago, and his family relocated to Australia in February for his father's work.

The tournament took place over three days, with Dineth competing against a large field of opponents. He used a range of words during the tournament, including 'lauf', 'novelese', 'minceur', 'histrio', and 'postering', to emerge victorious.

Dineth's win is a significant achievement, given that English is not his first language. He started playing Scrabble at the age of eight, while living in Sri Lanka, and has quickly become a skilled player.

## Why it matters Dineth's victory is a testament to his dedication and skill, and demonstrates that with hard work and practice, anyone can achieve success in their chosen field. The win is also a significant achievement for Australia, with Dineth becoming the third Australian representative to claim the title.

The tournament was a challenging event, with Dineth facing stiff competition from opponents from around the world. However, he was able to stay focused and concentrate on the game, using his knowledge of words to outmaneuver his opponents.

Dineth's family is thrilled with his win, with his father, Prasanna Fernando, saying that it feels unreal. He always knew that his son was capable of winning, but the level of competition was extremely high.