KARACHI: The 2014 Scrabble Champions Tournament (formerly known as the World Scrabble Championship) started in London on Wednesday with 108 players from 31 countries including current and former world champions taking part.

Pakistan, the youngest team in the championship, is represented by Waseem Khatri alongside teenagers Moiz Baig and Ahmed Abdullah.

According to the information received here, the youngest player in the competition 15-year-old Ahmed made a sensational debut by beating World No. 15 David Eldar of Australia in the opening match of the championship. This is one of the biggest ever upsets in the world championships.

Waseem made a great start winning his first two matches by huge margins to climb to the third position. Continuing to play brilliantly throughout, he finished 11th at the end of day one with six wins and a spread of 485.

Former world youth champion Moiz Baig suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of World No. 7 David Wiegand of the US in the first match but settled down quickly and recorded some impressive wins. Moiz finished the day on the 38th spot with five wins and a spread of 42.

Defending champion Nigel Richards of New Zealand had a poor day ending 48th.

Phil Robertshaw of England was the surprise package of the day. Robertshaw remained the only unbeaten player in the championship and is sitting pretty on the No. 1 spot.

Australia’s Alastair Richards, who toured Pakistan in 2012, is currently second with seven wins and a spread of 828 while Odette Rio of the Philippines is third with seven wins and a spread of 734.

Published in Dawn, November 21th, 2014