W-I-N-N-E-R! Oregon man crowned Scrabble champ

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A 24-year-old Portland, Oregon player has been crowned the national Scrabble champion.

Conrad Bassett-Bouchard beat 29-year-old Jason Li, of Montreal, on Wednesday in the final round of the five-day 25th National Scrabble Championship played at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

The final game's score was 477-350, with Bassett-Bouchard playing "tidy" on his final turn, and Li putting down "qua" in the tournament that saw an emerging group of younger players edge out the old guard.

Bassett-Bouchard was the tournament's second seed. After winning the final round, he accepted hugs and high fives from other players.

The 25th National Scrabble Championships began Sunday with 525 players from 11 countries competing for the $10,000 top prize.