Amy Fraser15 March 2024 | 15:17

South African Scrabble star shines bright at All Africa Games

Steven Gruzd is proudly representing South Africa in Scrabble at the All Africa Games in Ghana

South African Scrabble star shines bright at All Africa Games

Steven Gruzd representing South Africa in Scrabble at the All Africa Games in Ghana / Facebook: Steven Gruzd

John Perlman interviews Steven Gruzd who is representing South Africa in scrabble at the All Africa Games in Ghana.

Listen Below.

Steven Gruzd, not only a political analyst but also a skilled wordsmith, proudly represents South Africa in Scrabble at the All Africa Games in Ghana.

Gruzd's Scrabble journey began at age eight, playing with his late mother and later started competitive play at 12 in 1984.

His impressive record has earned him the nickname "Boy Wonder."

Gruzd describes the game format with eight African teams, each consisting of three players.

Each round is played against a different country, but the only way for the team to get a point is if all three players pass their round.

Unfortunately, they lost against Kenya, and while he managed to get a draw in his round against Nigeria, his other two team players lost their round.

Despite these losses, Gruzd remains optimistic, expressing determination to vie for victory.

"The standard in West Africa in particular is very, very high."
- Steven Gruzd
"I try to play as much as I can."
- Steven Gruzd

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.