2022: The Breakthrough and an International Perspective

Four years later, Christian reached another milestone.

In 2022, he became National English Scrabble Champion.

His victory attracted attention beyond Cameroon. After being featured on the Cameroon Scrabble Federation’s Facebook page, he was contacted by a top Scrabble player from Nigeria who introduced him to the opportunities available in competitive Scrabble.

That same year, Christian was invited to participate in the African Scrabble Championship in Lusaka, Zambia.

There, he met more than 100 experienced players from different backgrounds.

The experience became another turning point.

For the first time, he fully discovered the international level of the game, observed some of its strongest players and realised how much more he still had to learn.

His determination to improve grew stronger.

Three Titles and a Constant Commitment to Improvement

Christian would go on to win the Cameroon English Scrabble title again, gradually establishing himself as one of the leading figures in Cameroon’s English-language Scrabble community.

His third national title represents more than another trophy.

For him, it is the result of years of practice, preparation and competition against high-level players.

His playing style relies heavily on preparation, patience and the ability to remain focused under pressure.

He also acknowledges that there is still one area of his game he continues to work on: word retention.

In preparation for major competitions, he reads widely, practises word spellings, trains consistently and studies top international players.

Among the players he follows is Nigel Richards, one of the most renowned names in international English-language Scrabble.

A Rivalry That Drives Improvement

When discussing his toughest opponents, one name consistently comes up: Leinyuy Saber Emilienne.

The two players have faced each other in major finals, including consecutive editions of the Cameroon English-Language Scrabble Cup.

Their encounters illustrate what high-level Scrabble is about: when two players know each other’s style well, every decision can become decisive.

During the most recent final, Christian recalls experiencing intense pressure after losing a lead of around 60 points following a bingo played by his opponent.

He chose to remain focused, avoid unnecessary risks and keep accumulating points.

For him, the difference ultimately came down to calmness and pressure management.

More Than a Player: Building the Next Generation

Today, Christian’s ambitions extend beyond his own performance as a competitor.

As Coordinator of English-Language Scrabble, he is also involved in developing the discipline in schools.

School Scrabble clubs provide opportunities to identify new talent and introduce young players to competitive Scrabble.

For Christian, this dimension is essential.

He believes Scrabble helps students improve their English vocabulary while also developing concentration, analytical thinking and critical thinking.

The strong presence of young players in English-language competitions is, in his view, an encouraging sign for the long-term development of the discipline.

His ambition for the coming years is clear: to see a stable English-language Scrabble community emerge, capable of developing young players who can eventually join the national team and represent Cameroon in international competitions.

Two Languages, One Passion

Cameroon has a unique position in the Scrabble world: its players compete in both official languages of the country.

For Christian, this is an opportunity.

The French-language Scrabble community is already well established, and he would like to see more exchanges between the two communities in order to strengthen skills, strategies and activities within English-language Scrabble.

His hope is to eventually see events bringing French- and English-language players together through parallel competitions.

Two languages, but one shared passion for Scrabble.

The Family Behind the Champion

Behind the titles and international competitions lies a deeply personal family story.

Christian credits his uncle, Shey Peter Takeh, with starting his journey; his grandfather, Prof. V.G. Fanso, with helping develop it; and his fiancée, who continues to support and push his dream forward.

His journey has also required significant sacrifices, particularly financial ones, as he has sometimes had to fund his own participation in international Scrabble events.

He also dedicates time to training young players in schools, sometimes without financial compensation.

For him, these sacrifices are meaningful because they contribute to building something larger than his own career.

The Next Step: Africa, Then the World

After winning several national titles, Christian is now looking beyond Cameroon.

His next major target is the African Scrabble Championship, scheduled to take place in Monrovia, Liberia, from October 18 to 25, 2026.

But his ambition does not stop at Africa.

He wants to continue developing his skills and eventually reach the global stage.

At the same time, he is working on a personal project: a book about learning Scrabble and his own journey in the game.

It is his way of sharing what he has learned and leaving a lasting contribution to the development of Scrabble in Cameroon.

His professional career is also moving forward. Having recently completed his Master’s degree in Public Finance, he intends to continue developing professionally while maintaining his passion for Scrabble.

Two paths are therefore progressing side by side: the finance professional and the Scrabble player.

“Scrabble Is LIFE”

When asked what Scrabble means to him today, Christian’s answer is simple:

“Scrabble is LIFE.”

The phrase captures a journey that began with a simple Scrabble board given to a family member, continued with his first national competition in 2018, his first national title in 2022, international experiences and, today, an ambition focused on Africa and the world.

But perhaps his greatest ambition is a collective one.

To introduce more English-speaking Cameroonians to Scrabble.
To develop a new generation of players.
To build a stronger community.
And to give young players the opportunity to one day represent Cameroon on the international stage.

From a passionate player to a champion, and from a champion to a builder of the game, Christian Shoforla is determined to help write the next chapter of English-language Scrabble in Cameroon.