Two warring wordsmiths are battling it out Sunday to be crowned national Scrabble champion.
Paul Gallen, 26, from Belfast, and 43-year-old Wale Fashina, from Liverpool, who has already taken home the prestigious title in 2005, are testing their lexicological talents as they thrash it out be the 41st national winner.
The National Scrabble Championships in London with finalists, accountant Olawale Fashina (left) from Liverpool and solicitor Paul Gallen from Belfast
Visitors to the event in central London can experience the intricacies of the tense showdown between the two players, who scooped their coveted spot in the final after competing in six regional events throughout the country to qualify for a semi-final event.
This year, 2000 champion Brett Smitheram will be on hand to explain and comment on the moves to the audience as they occur.
Last year Wayne Kelly, 37, beat Gary Oliver, 39, to the title by outfoxing him with high-scoring words including caromel - meaning to turn into caramel and worth 69 points - and travails, worth 74.
The financial adviser from Warrington in Cheshire celebrated with a night on the tiles after bagging the £2,000 cash prize.