New Zealand's 'Tiger Woods' of Scrabble Wins Spanish Championship Despite Not Speaking the Language

new zealand - New Zealand's Scrabble phenomenon Nigel Richards has recently added another remarkable title to his long list of achievements by winning the tournament in Granada, Spain, despite not speaking a word of Spanish.

New Zealand's Scrabble prodigy Nigel Richards has once again clinched a remarkable victory at the tournament in Granada, Spain, as reported by the New Zealand radio station RNZ.

"This is an incredible humiliation," said Benjamin Olaizola, who finished second behind Richards, to the Spanish radio network La Cadena SER. He described his opponent as a 'gifted man' with 'very specific abilities.'

During this tournament, Richards defeated around 145 opponents from all over the world, including many Spanish-speaking players. Known as the 'Tiger Woods of Scrabble,' the New Zealander has triumphed in about 200 tournaments globally and currently holds the number one spot in the World English-language Scrabble Player’s Association (WESPA) rankings.

This is not the first time he has won a tournament without speaking the language. In 2015, Richards gained international fame by claiming a French language title, despite knowing nothing more than 'bonjour.'

His girlfriend and loyal supporter Liz Fagerlund previously told CNN that Richards spent nine weeks memorizing the French Scrabble dictionary. However, he memorizes the language not word by word but by capturing the pages photographically in his mind.

Despite his numerous achievements, Richards rarely gives interviews and is portrayed in the media as a recluse who enjoys cycling, doesn't smoke, drink, watch TV, or listen to the radio.