A Krishnan is jubilant after returning home with the first-place title in Division 1 at the Causeway Challenge 2026, held in Bangkok, Thailand, between May 29 to June 1. He is also the only Indian to have won a Causeway Challenge title in any division.
A familiar face in Chennai’s theatre circles, Krishnan is a master-level player recognised by the World English-language Scrabble Players’ Association (WESPA), with a current rating of 1,887. The tournament field was divided into five divisions—Premier, Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and Division 4—based on players’ skill levels and WESPA ratings.
“My tryst with Scrabble began around 1998, when my grandmother gifted me a scrabble set. Being a word buff, I was curious to learn more about the game and later trained for competitive scrabble. Since 2012, I have been representing the city and the country at several national and international tournaments,” says Krishnan.
Krishnan’s victory has given a fillip to scrabble players in Chennai, especially with the Chennai Open Scrabble Tournament scheduled to be held from June 26 to 28. The event is India’s first WESPA Silver Tier tournament to be backed by a government body and carries a total cash prize of ₹4.3 lakh. It will feature categories for open, beginners, school and college participants.
Competitors and organisers celebrate the spirit of wordplay and friendship at the Causeway Challenge 2026 with a group photograph in Bangkok.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
His triumph in Bangkok marks a significant milestone for Indian scrabble and adds another achievement to his long competitive record. India’s standout performer was A. Krishnan of Chennai, who won Division 1 and earned prize money of USD 5,000. In the elite Premier Division, 15-year-old Madhav Gopal Kamath of Delhi, the world’s youngest Scrabble Grandmaster, secured an outstanding 8th-place finish, while Aditya Iyengar of Mumbai finished 10th.“At the tournament, I had a 50% chance of winning or losing,” says Krishnan. “Every single game was nerve-racking and tough. I fought until the very last move.”
Mentored in his younger days by retired IAS officer Mohan Chunkath, Krishnan has also been actively promoting scrabble in schools across Chennai for many years. Alongside this, he teaches theatre in schools and has acted in films. His most recent feature film appearance was in Bad Girl, directed by Varsha Bharath.
“I want more and more children to actively participate in competitive scrabble. We have 16-year-old Madhav Kamath, a WESPA Grandmaster, who is the world’s youngest Scrabble Grandmaster and is currently ranked eighth in the world. I am training my students and motivating them to participate in tournaments,” says Krishnan. Krishnan, won Division 1 and earned prize money of USD 5,000. In the elite Premier Division, 15-year-old Madhav Gopal Kamath of Delhi, secured an outstanding 8th-place finish, while Aditya Iyengar of Mumbai finished 10th.
As a teacher of both theatre and scrabble, Krishnan says, “Children have the amazing ability to trust me and explore the art form of theatre, while also trying to outsmart me by finding newer words in scrabble. Teaching is an inclusive, immersive and enriching experience.” The multi-skilled Krishnan believes that his interactions with students, both in the classroom and through extracurricular activities, continue to inspire and motivate him.
Krishnan engages students in a Scrabble session, combining his passion for teaching and wordplay to nurture the next generation of competitive players.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Does his experience as a theatre artiste complement his scrabble playing? Krishnan certainly believes so. “As theatre artists, we memorise scripts and dialogues, and are constantly exposed to new literature and new words. I am also a voracious reader. As a result, my word knowledge has been enriched and, naturally, it helps me as a scrabble player,” says Krishnan.
Adding with a chuckle, he says, “The final word that helped me win was ‘epitases’ — a term from the world of theatre referring to the main section of a classical play where the plot thickens, conflicts arise and dramatic tension builds towards the climax.”
Published – June 10, 2026 11:40 am IST
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