The Singapore squad put on a strong display at the recent ASTAR Scrabble Challenge, with several players challenging for top positions against a field of skilled opponents from across the region. Leading the way in the main division was Hubert Wee, who claimed an impressive second place with 12 wins and a strong +1160 spread. Hubert’s campaign included decisive victories over high-rated opponents such as Thacha Koowirat and Nuti Suri, and even a notable win against reigning champion Nigel Richards in Round 16. However, in a tense final-round rematch, Hubert narrowly fell to Nigel 480–484, missing out on the championship but securing a memorable runner-up finish. See Will Anderson’s video covering the final game in dramatic detail.
Joining Hubert in the top ranks was Ryan Wee, who finished third with 12 wins and a remarkable 40-point rating gain, cementing himself as one of the fastest-improving players in the field. Toh Weibin also put up a solid performance, finishing 10th despite facing several top-seeded opponents, while Jeremy Khoo claimed 12th place with consistent mid-tournament form. Tony Sim and Wolfram Poh rounded off Singapore’s presence in the upper half of the table, placing 15th and 16th respectively, each securing key wins to keep their records positive in a competitive field.
Meanwhile, in the U18 category, Cyril Xavier Hong delivered one of the standout performances of the event, finishing second overall with 12 wins out of 15 games and a staggering +1039 spread. Cyril started the tournament with a perfect five-game streak before falling to eventual champion Lord Garnett Talisic in a closely contested 454–487 battle. He went on to win key rematches against Alexis Koh and Vyasa Dheva, and kept his title hopes alive until the closing stages. However, three narrow defeats to Talisic across the event ultimately proved decisive in the title race. Cyril’s performance earned him a massive 148-point rating gain — a testament to his growth and skill on the board.
With two second-place finishes, multiple top-10 placements, and rating gains across several players, the Singapore team leaves the tournament with both pride and motivation. The experience gained from battling some of the world’s best, coupled with the momentum from these results, bodes well for their next challenges on the competitive Scrabble circuit.
WESPA tournament results, including the results for ASCI 2025 can be found on the official WEPSA website .