IT TOOK four hours 10 minutes, about 400 words, and 28 opponents.

But now Scrabble expert Chris May is the world record holder for the most number of games played and won simultaneously by a single player.

The 29-year-old student at Lincoln College, Oxford, who is ranked number nine in the world for Scrabble playing, completed the challenge last night at Oxford University Press.

The previous record of 25 games was set by Ganesh Asirvatham in India in 2007.

He needed to win 75 per cent of his games – at least 21 – to break the record.

Mr May ended up winning 25 and so only lost three.

The Oxford Scrabble Club member Mr May told the Oxford Mail: “It was exhausting, going from one to the other and constantly thinking.

“I was most worried that when I got round to them again the boards would look unfamiliar because there were 27 in between but they stuck in my mind.

“I’m really pleased and looking forward to Guinness World Records confirming it.”

Now Mr May has to compile all the evidence, photos, filming, and witness evidence to send off for verification.

Guinness World Records then has to confirm the world record, which could take several weeks.

While playing the marathon games, Mr May spent just a matter of seconds deciding each turn while a volunteer followed him to pick his new letters.

One of the official witnesses was four-time UK Scrabble champion Philip Nelkon.

The 56-year-old from London said: “I was at the previous attempt in India too.

“It really becomes a feat of mental strength to spot the best play for more than four hours.”

Some of his 28 opponents, who were drawn from the Scrabble community including UK tournament players, brought books with them to read while they waited their turn.

Karl Kwiatkowski was victorious against the Scrabble pro with 374 to his 342.

The 53-year-old from Stonesfield said: “We both had tough letters for a long time and he had to play some rubbish words like ‘Ruru’. He came back towards the end with Silages, 89 points, but it was too late by then.”

Mr May’s record challenge has so far raised more than £1,000 for ARCh (Assisted reading for children in Oxfordshire) so far.

To donate, visit archoxfordshire.org.uk

Chris’s top scoring words
Thieves – 107
Bunters – 94
Furziest – 90
Freedom – 93
Drybeat – 82
Finnier – 82