Liberia is stepping up preparations to host the 16th Africa Scrabble Championship (ASC 2026), with the continental competition scheduled to take place in Monrovia from October 21–25, 2026.

The championship is expected to bring together more than 120 players from approximately 30 African countries, making it one of the major Scrabble events on the continent this year.

The tournament will be organised by the National Scrabble Association of Liberia (NASAL) in collaboration with the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA).

Record US$35,000 Prize Fund

One of the major attractions of this year’s championship is the record US$35,000 prize purse announced for the competition.

The champion will receive US$10,000 and a trophy, while the runner-up will take home US$5,000. The third-placed player will receive US$3,500, with the fourth and fifth positions receiving US$3,000 and US$2,250, respectively.

Cash prizes are also expected to be awarded to players finishing from sixth to 20th position, while trophies will be presented to the top three individual players.

The championship will also feature a country competition, with trophies expected to be presented to the top three countries.

Liberia’s Preparations

Preparations have already moved forward, with the Liberian government engaging NASAL officials over the hosting of the continental championship.

On August 27, 2026, Liberia’s Youth and Sports Minister, Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah, met with representatives of NASAL to discuss preparations for the event and the development of Scrabble in the country.

The organising committee is also working on areas including sponsorship, accommodation, travel arrangements, visa and logistical requirements, tournament organisation, and stakeholder engagement.

The championship is expected to provide Liberia with an opportunity to further promote Scrabble, particularly among young people and schools.

Sierra Leone’s Challenge

For Sierra Leone, the Liberia championship presents another important opportunity to compete against the continent’s leading Scrabble players.

With the tournament less than two months away, attention will now turn to the final selection of Sierra Leone’s delegation, registration requirements, travel arrangements, accommodation, and preparations for the competition.

The complete breakdown of the US$35,000 prize fund for positions six to 20, as well as the final list of participating countries and detailed tournament schedule, is expected to be confirmed through official PANASA and NASAL announcements.

The 16th Africa Scrabble Championship is therefore shaping up to be a major gathering of Africa’s Scrabble community, with Liberia preparing to welcome players and officials from across the continent.