A New Zealand man who does not speak a word of French has won the French-language Scrabble world championship.

Photo: AFP

Nigel Richards defeated a rival from French-speaking Gabon in the final in Louvain, Belgium.

From Christchurch, Mr Richards is said to have memorised an entire French Scrabble dictionary in nine weeks earlier this year.

A previous English Scrabble champion, he is now based in Malaysia.

He beat Gabon's Schelick Ilagou Rekawe by two games to nil in Monday's final.

- BBC