Room full of players

Causeway Challenge History

Singapore and Malaysia are separated by the narrow Johor Strait. A road and rail Causeway spans it. In a similar way, the Causeway Challenge began in 2022 to make a link between a team of 10 from Singapore and a team of 10 from Malaysia in friendly but serious competition. The format evolved over the years and then in 2006 with the grand vision by Michael Tang The Causeway international became a way to bring together players from around the world, coming to the large Zon Regency hotel in Johor Bahru (adjacent to the Causeway bridge). In 2011 and 2016 over 200 players competed. After that the International Causeway ceased for several years although Michael organised three Alchemist Cups which had teams from ten countries.

Players of our favourite word game certainly have fond memories of the Causeway Challenge at the Zon but after a gap of ten years Michael Tang worked with Manop Phiphatboonserm to plan the biggest Causeway Challenge to date in 2026 in Thailand.

Causeway Challenge

22 Dec 2002 1st Causeway Team Challenge Riviera Bay Resort, Malacca

TEAM SG v MY, 20 players 20 rounds 1. Nigel Richards 2. A Ganesh 3. Kong Chock Heng

14 Dec 2003 2nd Causeway Team Challenge Eden Garden Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • TEAM SG v MY, 20 players 20 rounds 1. Tony Sim 2. Aaron Chong 3. Gan Cher Siong
  • MASTERS OPEN, 24 players 18 rounds 1. Hubert Wee Ming Hui 2. M Nashad 3. Paulette Yeoh
19 Dec 2004 3rd Causeway Team Challenge Eden Garden Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • SIN v MAL v THA, 30 players 29 rounds 1. A Ganesh 2. Komol Panyasopon 3. Panupol Sujjayakorn
  • OPEN, 30 players 20 rounds 1. Benjamin Chow 2. Ong Suanne 3. Jessie Lim Poey Lan
18 Dec 2005 4th Causeway Team Challenge Eden Garden Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • SG v MY v TH v PH, 32 players 24 rounds 1. A Ganesh 2. Aaron Chong 3. Gerry Carter
  • OPEN, 46 players 20 rounds 1. Shim Yen Nee 2. Liew Kian Boon 3. Kong Chock Heng
10 Dec 2006 5th Causeway International Challenge Zon Regency Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • PREMIER, 30 players 25 rounds 1. A Ganesh 2. Nigel Richards 3. Chris May
  • OPEN, 66 players 20 rounds 1. Austin Shin 2. Thacha Koowirat 3. Liew Kian Boon
2 Dec 2007 6th Causeway International Challenge Zon Regency Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • PREMIER, 30 players 25 rounds 1. A Ganesh 2. Chris May 3. Nigel Richards
  • OPEN, 78 players 22 rounds 1. Tony Sim 2. Chaiwat Wuthinithiko 3. Dielle Saldanha
30 Nov 2008 Causeway International Challenge Zon Regency Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • PREMIER 49 players 45 rounds 1. David Eldar 2. Edward Okulicz 3 Harshan Lamabadusuriya
  • OPEN 72 players 33 rounds 1. Theodoro Martus 2. Andy Kurnia 3. Ricky Purnomo
4 Dec 2009 Causeway International Challenge Zon Regency Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • PREMIER 50 players 45 rounds 1.Nigel Richards 2. Pakorn 3. Mark Nyman
  • OPEN 137 players 45 rounds 1. Michael Akonor 2. Peter Kougi 3. Theodoro Martus
5 Dec 2010 Causeway International Challenge Zon Regency Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • PREMIER 50 players 45 rounds 1. Panupol 2. Mikki Nicholson 3. Brett Smitheram
  • B 68 players 45 rounds 1. Thacha Koowirat 2. Alastair Richards 3. Tony Sim
  • C 84 players 45 rounds 1. Helen Maurus 2. Nsidibe Frank 3. Jowar Ayuno
30 Nov 2011 Causeway International Challenge Zon Regency Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • PREMIER 48 players 45 rounds 1. Pakorn 2. Nigel Richards 3. Hubert Wee
  • B 56 plyers 45 rounds 1. Ricky Purnomo 2. Cheong Yi Wei 3. Tan Jin Chor
  • C 84 players 45 rounds 1. Jayden Kuhne 2. Fadlan Satria 3. Robby Swandanu
6 Jul 2014 Causeway Team Challenge Bishan CC
  • TEAM SG V MY, 20 players 20 rounds 1. Nigel Richards 2. Marlon Prudencio 3. Wong Zhi Yuan
25 Oct 2015 Causeway Team Challenge Summit USJ
  • TEAM SG V MY, 20 players 20 rounds 1. Toh Weibin 2. Hubert Wee Ming Hui 3. Nigel Richards
6 Nov 2016 Causeway Team Challenge Berjaya Waterfront Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • TEAM SG V MY, 20 players 20 rounds 1. Nigel Richards 2. Toh Weibin 3. Hubert Wee Ming Hui
4 Dec 2016 Causeway International Challenge Berjaya Waterfront Hotel, Johor Bahru
  • PREMIER, 46 players, 45 rounds 1. Nigel Richards 2. David Eldar 3. Ayorinde Saidu
  • B, 47 players, 45 rounds 1. Chang Ching Wei 2. Raymond Ghabara 3. Andy Kurnia
  • C, 56 players, 45 rounds 1. Ehbudu Chukwudi 2. Olajide Akinyemi 3. Yuda Eka Prasebra
  • D, 55 players, 45 rounds 1. Ejenakevbe Douglas 2. Julius Ufuoma 3. Offodum Chukwuka
29 Oct 2017 Causeway Team Challenge The Shore, Malacca
  • TEAM SG V MY, 20 players 20 rounds 1. A Ganesh 2. Nigel Richards 3. Gan Yi En
4 Aug 2024 Causeway Team Challenge Johor Bahru
  • TEAM SG V MY, 20 players 20 rounds 1. Hubert Wee Ming Hui 2. J Jeyaseelan 3. Liew Kian Boon
31 Oct - Nov 1 2025 Causeway Team Challenge Malacca
  • TEAM SG V MY, 20 players 20 rounds. 1. Yong Jian Rong 2.Ryan Wee 3. Jeremy Khoo
    See event coverage
29 May 2026 Causeway International Challenge, Miracle Grand Hotel, Bangkok
  • PREMIER 86 players 36 rounds 1. David Eldar 2. Joshua Costellano 3. Harshan Lamabadusuriya
  • DIVISION 1 88 players 36 rounds 1. A Krishnan 2. Oliribigbe Hakeem 3. Weera Saengsit
  • DIVISION 2 86 players 36 rounds 1. Zachary Dang 2. Imeth De Silva 3. Ronald Credo
  • DIVISION 3 90 players 36 rounds 1. Mbonu Olachi 2. Hassan Bin Arshad 3. Narawit Suwatthanaphon
  • DIVISION 4 86 players 36 rounds 1. Pattarapol Jewjarern 2. Mohammad Ebaad 3. Paerrin Udtaisuk
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