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

A 13-year-old boy from Melbourne, Dineth Fernando, has become the youngest Australian to win the world youth Scrabble championship, claiming victory at the 2026 event held in Nairobi, Kenya. The competition, which attracted over 130 participants from 15 countries, saw Dineth defeat competitors in a grueling three-day tournament consisting of 24 games. His triumph marks the third time an Australian has secured the title in the competition's history. Dineth, who moved to Melbourne with his family from Sri Lanka in February, began playing Scrabble at age eight while still living in Sri Lanka. He joined his school’s Scrabble club and later hired a private coach to help him hone his skills. His dedication led him to travel extensively within Sri Lanka to participate in local competitions. Upon moving to Australia, he continued his pursuit of excellence, facing off against seasoned players such as Melbourne-based two-time world champion David Eldar and world champion finalist Harshan Lamabadusuriya. His efforts paid off, earning him a runner-up finish at the Wodonga Open Scrabble Championship and a win at the Ballarat Open Championship before securing the Australian youth title. This year’s world youth Scrabble championship in Nairobi tested Dineth’s endurance and skill. After battling jetlag and nerves, he played more than 20 hours of matches, relying on his ability to identify obscure words such as “lauf” (a term used in bobsleighing), “novelese” (a literary style associated with poorly written fiction), “minceur” (a French word for thinness), “histrio” (an archaic term for actor), and “postering.” These strategic choices helped him secure the victory, marking his third appearance at the world championships. Dineth’s success has been celebrated by both his family and the Scrabble community. His father, Prasanna Fernando, expressed disbelief at his son’s achievement, noting the intense competition and the high level of skill required. “I sometimes still can’t believe he actually won it because the level of competition was extremely high,” he said. However, he also emphasized that he always believed Dineth was capable of achieving such a feat. Scrabble Victoria secretary Carol Johnsen, who has faced Dineth in several matches, described him as an exceptional player. She noted that Dineth’s mastery of the game allowed him to consistently score highly, often surpassing her by over 200 points. “The tiles just flowed for him: he got the X and the Z and the Q and they all went in the right places,” she remarked. Dineth attributes his success to disciplined study and practice, spending more than three hours daily reviewing Scrabble vocabulary. Despite English not being his first language, he views the game as accessible due to its multilingual dictionary, which includes words from English, Latin, French, and other languages. This perspective aligns with that of Nigel Richards, a five-time world champion known for winning titles in languages he did not speak, including French and Spanish. For Dineth, Scrabble is more than a competitive sport, it is an avenue for learning and personal growth. He enjoys discovering new words and expanding his knowledge. After returning home following a nearly 12,000-kilometer journey, he received a warm reception at his school, where classmates and teachers congratulated him on his remarkable achievement. His story continues to inspire others, highlighting the power of perseverance and passion.