It was a tense and unpredictable battle of wits. But, after almost five gruelling hours of lexicographic dexterity, the occasional seven-letter stunner and a dash of schoolboy slang, a 26-year-old solicitor from Belfast has been crowned the national Scrabble champion of 2012.
Battling his friend Olawale Fashina at the four-game final in central London, Paul Gallen came from a game down to claw back the championship 3-1.
Among the words that clinched his victory were "neonates", meaning a newborn child or mammal, "privado", a confidant, and "vauntier", meaning more boastful. Others needed less explanation, such as "jism".
Gallen, who only started playing Scrabble seriously six years ago once he had won the television show Countdown Champion of Champions, said he was delighted but admitted he thought he was in trouble after losing the first game 430-404 thanks to a last-minute seven-letter bingo for "riddles" from Fashina.
"It was a very tense, close match," said Gallen, adding that it was only after he had gained a 100-point lead in the fourth game from "neonates" that he knew victory was within his grasp.
Gallen pocketed a £2,500 top prize, while Fashina took home £1,250.
Paying tribute to Fashina, a 43-year-old accountant from Liverpool who took home the title in 2005, he said: "I've a lot of time for Waly; he's a good friend of mine and if I hadn't been in the final I would have been cheering him on. He was very gracious in defeat."
As online apps and social media sites such as Facebook breathe new life into a traditional pastime, Scrabble fans are hoping their game will go from strength to strength in the 21st century.
Gallen urged all budding players to try out the Scrabble circuit. "People play on their iPhones; people play on Facebook," he said. "I would encourage them all to try the tournament scene."
The 2012 national championship, which saw six regional events funnel the best 60 players into a semi-final earlier this year, was the 41st to be held. Last year, a Warrington financial adviser, Wayne Kelly, 37, was crowned the victor after playing high-scoring words such as "caromel", meaning to turn into caramel.
Gallen said he had prepared for the clash with nothing more than "a good night's sleep". He was watched by his father, who had flown over from Belfast to support him. Gallen, who started playing in a Belfast team and played his first tournament in 2006, was ranked number five in the world going into the national championship.
He said he would be aiming next year to play in the Scrabble world championships and to win another "major". But he added: "I'll just try and enjoy this one first. It's so difficult to win UK majors because there are so many good players now. So [I'll] just enjoy this and see if I can win another major next year."
