"Scrabble is my life; everything else is just a game." For Mohammed Irfan Siddiqui, a Bahraini player who recently climbed to World No. 30 in the latest WESPA global rankings, the phrase reflects reality rather than rhetoric. The 20-year
TDT | Manama
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“Scrabble is my life; everything else is just a game.”
For Mohammed Irfan Siddiqui, a Bahraini player who recently climbed to World No. 30 in the latest WESPA global rankings, the phrase reflects reality rather than rhetoric.
The 20-year Scrabble veteran recently secured second place at the prestigious KSSA Indian Open 2026, one of the world’s most competitive scrabble tournaments, emerging ahead of more than 100 top international players.
Irfan, known for his strategic and analytical skills, has represented Bahrain on stages from India to the UK. His recent runner-up finish is one of the country’s biggest Scrabble achievements.
Misconception
“One common misconception is that Scrabble is just about having a strong vocabulary,” he says.
In reality, it’s about probability analysis, board strategy, risk management and mental endurance”.
Now World No. 30, he hopes to break into the global top 10 and is calling for more local support to help Bahraini players compete internationally and grow the game at home.
