KARACHI, July 15: Visiting Australian scrabble sensation Alastair Richards won the Koala Scrabble Challenge, which is organised by the Pakistan Scrabble Association (PSA) at Beach Luxury Hotel here on Sunday.

Displaying immense vocabulary coupled with immaculate technique, Alastair won 17 matches with a spread of 1,918.

Tariq Pervez finished highest among the Pakistani players with 12 wins and a spread of 566 while Anwar Siddiqui finished third with 12 wins and a spread of 140.

Karen Richards, chairperson of the World Youth Scrabble Organisation Committee, and Alastair’s mother, finished 12th.

In the recreational category, 12-year-old Ahmad Abdullah was first while Sumbul Siddiqui and Arham Abidi finished second and third, respectively.

Earlier, at the end of day one, on Saturday, Alastair was leading with eight wins and a spread of 1,071.

Alastair was beaten by Pakistan champion Waseem Khatri in the earlier rounds before he could gradually climb his way to the top.

Waseem Khatri himself was lying second with seven wins and a spread of 576 while Karen Richards was third with seven wins and a spread of 505.

Two teenagers Javeria Mirza and Javeria Salman were at fourth and fifth positions.

At the end of the programme on the second day, Karen Richards distributed the prizes among the winners while praising the local players for an excellent showing.