Galesburg Hosts National Scrabble Champion at Spring Fling Tournament

Top-ranked players to compete in sanctioned events livestreamed for global audience

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:13am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a Scrabble game in progress, with letter tiles and game board broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, conveying the intellectual challenge and competitive spirit of the tournament.Galesburg's Scrabble community comes together in a cubist celebration of wordplay and strategic thinking.Galesburg Today

The 2023 North American Scrabble Champion, Josh Sokol, will headline the Galesburg Spring Fling Scrabble tournaments taking place this weekend, April 11-13, in Galesburg, Illinois. Several other top-ranked players are also expected to participate in the sanctioned events, which will be livestreamed online for viewers around the world.

Why it matters

Galesburg has been building a growing Scrabble community, with Mayor Peter Schwartzman himself being a nationally ranked player. The Spring Fling tournament is an opportunity to showcase Galesburg's love for the game and attract new players to the city's vibrant Scrabble scene.

The details

The Galesburg Spring Fling tournaments will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, at the Galesburg Community Arts Center. The weekend will wrap up on Monday, April 13, with a special National Scrabble Day livestream event at the Best Western Prairie Inn & Conference Center. All tournaments are sanctioned by the Word Game Players' Organization and are open to players of all skill levels.

  • The Galesburg Spring Fling tournaments will take place on April 11-12, 2026.
  • The National Scrabble Day livestream event will be held on April 13, 2026.

The players

Josh Sokol

The 2023 North American Scrabble Champion who will be competing and joining the live commentary team at the Galesburg Spring Fling tournaments.

Peter Schwartzman

The mayor of Galesburg, Illinois, who is a nationally ranked Scrabble player himself and is helping to build the city's growing Scrabble community.

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What they’re saying

“There's a real energy building around Scrabble in Galesburg. We've got great players, a fantastic community, and a city that loves to welcome visitors. This weekend is about competition, connection, and showing people what Galesburg is all about.”

— Peter Schwartzman, Mayor of Galesburg

What’s next

Spectators can follow the action live online April 11-13 on YouTube by visiting LetsPlayScrabble.com for daily livestream links.

The takeaway

Galesburg's Scrabble community is thriving, attracting top talent and showcasing the city's passion for the game. The Spring Fling tournament promises an exciting weekend of strategic wordplay and community celebration.