Who Will Be New Zealand’s Masters Scrabble Champion For 2025?

WHAT: 41st New Zealand Masters Scrabble Championship

WHERE: Mt Albert Bridge Club, Councillors Drive, Mt Albert

WHEN: Frid 18 April to Sun 20 April 2025, 9.00am to 4.30pm

The top 24 Scrabble players in New Zealand will be descending on Mt Albert this Easter weekend to decide who will be New Zealand’s 41st Masters Champion

One of the three premier events in New Zealand’s Scrabble calendar, the Masters crown is hotly contested over 23 games. This year, for the first time, the tournament will be livestreamed to an international audience with live commentary from expert Scrabblers from several countries. The public can watch for free on the NZ Scrabble YouTube channel: 
https://youtube.com/live/dMiApoVSvt8

The current NZ Masters champion is Howard Warner (Wellington/Wairarapa) who has won the title 13 times. Trying to wrest the title from him are several New Zealand Scrabble Grand Masters and world ranked players including:

Chris Tallman (Mt Albert): Currently ranked #1 in New Zealand

Dylan Early (Wellington): Former NZ National Champion and six times South African champion

Andrew Bradley (Mt Albert): 2023 NZ Masters champ

Adding to the excitement, the field includes the oldest ever player - Shirley Martin aged 86 from Hamilton. Our youngest player this year is Lewis Hawkins aged 20 from Christchurch. In addition, three of this year’s entrants are playing in the tournament for the first time - Chris Tallman (Mt Albert), Karen Gray (Dunedin) and Norma Fisher (Chrischurch).

Scrabble is a very popular game in New Zealand and competition at all levels in the national championship is fierce but also lots of fun. Masters participants this year are from every part of New Zealand and are of all ages and occupations.

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