NACC Final: Josh Sokol is your champion!

Four players began the day vying for the title of North American Collins Champion, and in the end, just one emerged. Josh Sokol is the last man standing. The playoffs are complete, and it's Josh going home with the trophy, the glory, and the $6,000 grand prize.

In the morning, Josh outlasted Chris Lipe in a hard-fought series, 2 games to 1. It was a crazy, back-and-forth battle. There were big bingos, big misses, crazy lead changes, time-scrambled endgames, even a game-deciding Q-stick in there at one point. Eventually, Josh prevailed, and it was on to the finals.

After lunch, Josh took on Thomas Reinke for all the marbles. Game 1 was a rather lopsided affair; he landed three straight bingos in the middlegame and things were decided rather quickly. Then came Game 2 - it was close the whole way, and the players traded some big punches (including Thomas getting down JIGSAWS for 102 late!), but Josh held on and finished the job. His endgame was on point, and by a 463-454 final, he clinched the match and clinched the tournament.

It was a pretty epic day of championship-level Scrabble. Congrats to Josh on winning the title - it's most definitely well deserved. Cheers also to Thomas for capturing second place, Alec Sjöholm on finishing third, and Chris fourth. Brilliant performances all around.

In Division 2, a round of applause is due for Nicholas Tam, who took home the championship, as well as the rest of the top four - Ethan Joseph, Ayodele Odekunle, and Lola McKissen. Well done, all.

We will have much more to say about this tournament next week - many more congrats, many more thank-yous, and a whole lot more. Until then, farewell from Minneapolis. It's been a most excellent long weekend hosting you all here in the Twin Cities. Safe travels home, everyone.