A YOUNG Scrabble player received an early birthday present after earning a place in the top 50 in the popular board game’s World Youth Championships.

Josh Irvine, who turned 14 yesterday, won 10 of his 22 games in the three-day tournament held in Birmingham last weekend.

He was in competition with about 70 other young wordsmiths from 11 different countries, including Thailand and Pakistan, and finished 49th in the competition.

Josh, who is the youngest member of the Pershore Scrabble Club in Fladbury by almost half a century, said he did not expect to win so many games.

“Most of the games were really close,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to do that well. I think a boy from Australia won it in the end. We knew him quite well after the three days so it was nice that he won.”

The Alcester Grammar School pupil said that organisers had to be careful where they put the tables as the conference room was full of mirrors which could have been used to give crafty players helpful hints.

Fellow club member Yvonne McKeon said they were really proud of his achievement.

“He did very well playing against some very tough opponents,” she said.

“Considering he was completely new to it he did extremely well. He received lots of compliments from people organising it.”