By Our Correspondent
With just months to go, preparations for the 16th Africa Scrabble Championship (ASC) have shifted into high gear following the official confirmation of Monrovia, Liberia, as host city.
Since the announcement, the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) and the National Scrabble Association of Liberia (NASAL) have been engaged in intensive planning, with early indications pointing to a landmark tournament set to reset the standards of the game on the continent.
From October 21–25, 2026, the iconic Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex on Tubman Boulevard will become the epicentre of African Scrabble, hosting the continent’s sharpest minds for what is already being described as the most ambitious edition in the championship’s 32-year history.
PANASA has confirmed that NASAL’s proposed tournament budget is the largest ever in the history of the Africa Scrabble Championship.
This unprecedented financial commitment has attracted widespread praise across the continent, with African federations applauding Liberia’s bold investment in the growth and development of the sport.
“This will be a record-breaking championship in every sense,” PANASA officials noted, describing the budget as a game-changer for player welfare, organisation, and competitive incentives.
For the first time in ASC history, the top 20 finishers will all receive cash prizes—a significant departure from previous editions where rewards were limited to only a handful of players.
Even more striking, the top five payouts will be the highest ever recorded in the championship’s three-decade existence, while the eventual champion will earn a record purse, the richest reward ever offered to an African Scrabble winner.
The incentives extend beyond cash. The top three finishers will also receive distinctive, specially designed trophies, adding prestige to podium finishes and further elevating the championship’s profile.
In a major show of goodwill to players, registration fees for quota players have been maintained at 2022 rates, despite prize money increasing by up to 100 percent in most categories—a rare move that underscores the organisers’ commitment to inclusivity and participation.
Each country may register up to 15 home-based players, with an additional maximum of five diaspora players, raising the total possible team size to 20 players per nation.
The registration process remains streamlined and official. Only Presidents, Chairmen of national associations, or designated Team Captains are authorised to register teams on the tournament portal.
EYES ON MONROVIA
With logistics, visas, accommodation, and travel arrangements already being fine-tuned, PANASA has urged national associations to actively disseminate tournament details to their players.
Further information is available on the dedicated tournament page, while inquiries may be directed to Chrispine Okeyo (PANASA Technical Director) or Lester Morris, President of NASAL.
As Africa’s finest Scrabble minds begin their countdown, one thing is clear: Monrovia 2026 will not just crown a champion—it will redefine the Africa Scrabble Championship and the sport itself.
