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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Kat Wong

‘Lauf’ and ‘minceur’: the words that made a 13-year-old from Melbourne a world Scrabble champion

Dineth Fernando holds a large gold trophy at the World Youth Scrabble Championship, wearing a medal
Dineth Fernando won the 2026 World Youth Scrabble Championship. Photograph: Prasanna Fernando

Dineth Fernando’s first language isn’t English and he only arrived in Melbourne six months ago – but already he has claimed an international Scrabble title with an Australian flag draped around his shoulders.

The 13-year-old won the 2026 World Youth Scrabble Championship in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on the weekend, becoming the fourth Australian representative in the competition’s history to take out the prize.

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