The World Youth Scrabble Championships now known as the WESPA Youth Cup will be held in Dubai UAE, from the 13th - 15th of December 2018  WESPA has announced. According to the information available on organization's youth Scrabble website, the venue will be GEMS Dubai American Academy, Hessa Street/Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Barsha, Dubai.

The WESPA Youth Cup (previously known as the World Youth Scrabble Championships, WYSC until 2017) is an annual international Scrabble event for youth and has been held in different parts of the world since 2006. The last edition (2017) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and was won by Sri Lanka. Nigeria entered for the competition but could not travel due to lack of sponsorship. In 2016 Nigeria was represented by Pese Alo (31st), Okikioluwa Hector-Fowobaje (66th), Fortune Ezennia (79th) and Esom Kemakolam (92nd) who were among the 107 competing youths from 15 countries. Okikioluwa Hector won the overall High Game prize, scoring 653 points in game 2 (against Sahel Infas of Qatar 252). Nigeria's best individual performance till date was by Femi Akinlosotu who finished 4th in the 2010 edition in Manila, Philippines. This surpassed the 6th place achievement by Seun Oyeleke  in 2009 WYSC at Johor Baru, Malaysia.

Mr Eta Karo also known in Nigeria Scrabble circuit as the Malaysian Prince emerged top of the pack at the NSF/Total selection tournament for the 2018 World Scrabble Championships and Alchemist International coming up later this year. The five-day trials and selection camp held at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was sponsored by Total E&P Scrabble Club and facilitated by coaching crew of the Scrabble Federation.

Of the 22 invited players, 20 players eventually completed the 5-day series of 14 games tourneys. The winners of the series were Nsikak Etim (Day 1), Quickpen Ben (Day 2) and Eta Karo (Day 3, 4 and 5).  Karo, garnered a cumulative 49.5 points with a margin of +2361 points to lead the pack after 70 games. In second place was former African Champion Etim Nsikan with 46 points and +2807 margin while Mr Moses Peter had 44 points and +2204 margin to finish in third.

Cumulative Points Table (after 70 games)

Results of 9th Secondary Schools Spelling Bee and 2nd Scrabble Competition held at Aliyu Musdafa College Yola Town from 18th to 19th May 2018. NADI International School won the Best School Trophy after finishing with 2 gold and 2 silver medals.

Medal  Table

Results: Spelling Bee

Written JSS

1. Gold Medal- Patience Zalkuwi – Restoration High School Yola.
2. Silver Medal – Jibrailu Aperemzangne – Bright Future High School Numan.
3. Bronze Medal - Fatimah Umar Daware – Ahmadu Ribadu College Yola.

Written SS

1. Gold Medal-. Shallom Uche – Restoration High School, Yola
2. Silver Medal – Haggai Charles – Nadi International High School.
3. Bronze Medal -Mercy Dimas – Bright Future High School, Numan

Oral JSS

1. Gold Medal- Hapsatu Shehu – Aliyu Musdafa College, Yola.
2. Silver Medal – Abdulhamid Idris – Nadi International School, Yola.
3. Bronze Medal – Cyril Gift – Bright Future High School, Numan.

Oral SS

1. Gold Medal- Haggai Charles – Nadi International High School, Yola.
2. Silver Medal - Mercy Dimas – Bright Future High School, Numan.
3. Bronze Medal –Huraira Ismail – Ibn Mas’ud Islamic School, M/Belwa.

Results: Scrabble

Results after Round 5 SCRABBLE COMPETITION - SINGLES

Results after Round 5 SCRABBLE DOUBLES

WESPA chairman Elie Dangoor has announced that GOA [note]Goa is a state in India within the coastal region known as the Konkan, in Western India. It is bounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its Western coast. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Goa has the highest GDP per capita among all Indian states, that is two and a half times that of the country. It was ranked the 'best placed State' by the "Eleventh Finance Commission" for its infrastructure and ranked on top for the 'best quality of life' in India by the National Commission on Population based on the 12 Indicators. Source WikiPedia [/note] has won the right to host the World English-Language Scrabble Players' Association Championship WESPAC from 21st to 26th October 2019.

In a closely fought battle, Goa pipped Kuala Lumpur to host the next WESPAC. Thanks also to Trinidad & Tobago for an exciting bid. Both these places will hold great events in the not too distant future. More details and full article to come after June 8th, when Nick Ivanovski is back from holiday.

Cover photo by Satyajit Nayak - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Secondary Schools Spelling Bee and Scrabble Competition was held from 4th to 5th of May 2018 Intercontinental College Kano.

Medals Table for Spelling Bee and Scrabble

Results: Spelling Bee.

Written Junior Secondary

1. Gold Medal- Khadijah Abdul Muhammad - Intercontinental College Tarauni.
2. Silver Medal - Dominion Uujamhan - St Thomas Secondary School.
3. Bronze Medal - Fatimah Ibrahim Adam - First Grade Comprehensive Secondary School.

Written Senior Secondary

1. Gold Medal- Aisha Babangida Jino - Spring Secondary School.
2. Silver Medal - Deborah Okegbile - St Louis Secondary School.
3. Bronze Medal - Bara'atu Abdul Muhammed - Intercontinental College.

Oral Junior Secondary

1.   Gold Medal- Dominion Uujamhan - St Thomas Secondary School.
2.   Silver Medal - Khadijah Mohammed Aliyu - Spring Secondary School.
3.   Bronze Medal - Khadijah Abdul Muhammad - Intercontinental College Tarauni.

Oral Senior Secondary

1.  Gold Medal- Deborah Okegbile - St Louis Secondary School.
2.  Silver Medal - Zainab Salisu Lawal - First Grade Comprehensive School.
3. Bronze Medal -Aisha Babangida Jino - Spring Secondary School.

Results: Scrabble

Results after Round 5 - Doubles

Results after Round 5 - Singles

Mattel, is delighted to announce that the World Scrabble Championships 2018 and the World Junior Scrabble Championships 2018, will be held at The Riviera International Conference Centre (ERC)  located in the heart of the English Riviera, in Torquay, England.

The event will consist of the World Junior Scrabble Championships and World Scrabble Championships, taking place at The Riviera International Conference Centre (ERC) from 20^th October 2018 to 28^th October 2018.

Mattel is working closely with our partner and event organisers TMA International to ensure the smooth running and success of the championships.

The National Senior Team Coach of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Mr Ikolo Anthony has invited twenty-two players to 5-day training camp in Port-Harcourt. The camping in collaboration with Total E&P Scrabble Club, Port-Harcourt is part of the process to select the teams that will represent Nigeria at this year's Africa Scrabble Championships, World Scrabble Championships and the Alchemist Cup holding in Gambia, England and Malaysia respectively. The camping will be held between the 21st - 25th of May 2018 at Total E&P Staff Club, Ogoja Street Amadi Flats Old GRA, Port Harcourt. Rivers State.

The list of invitees include fifteen top-rated home-based players viz

1.  Wellington Jighere 1847
2.  Eta Karo 1761
3. Dennis Ikekeregor 1759
4. Cyril Umebiye 1755
5.  Tuoyo Mayuku 1738
6.  Ezinore George 1704
7. Moses Peter 1691
8. Nsikak Etim 1677
9. Noble Onoshevwe 1675
10. Ewruje James 1662
11. Segun Durojaye 1642
12. Dipo Akanbi 1636
13. Oshevire Avwenagha 1626
14. Quickpen Ben 1616
15. Prince Omosefe 1611

Four (4) players were given wild cards

1. Sule Success - female player
2. Oshodi Sunday - host
3. Osikhena Ojior - host
4. Raymond Gbaraba - host

Three (3) players were invited based on outstanding performance in recent tournaments and club retreats. They are:

1. Enoch Nwali
2. Munanyo Vincent - Intermediate winner, NSPC 5
3. Atti Daystar - Opens winner, NSPC 5

Players will be provided accommodation, feeding (at least 1 free meal/day) and tea breaks as necessary.

Arrival date is Sunday, May 20, 2018. All invited players are expected to come with their complete scrabble playing materials. In addition, all players are expected to have been licensed and of good behaviour with respect to constituted authorities.

Invited players have until May 18, 2018, to give their consent to participate to NSF Technical Director, Mallam Faruq Baba - Inna (08036207546) and the Coach Senior Team (08023361200).

I am directed to inform you that the NSF has concluded arrangement to organize the under listed activities as scheduled below:

1. NSF General Assembly - 25th June 2018
2. Workshop for Tournament Directors/Adjudicators/ Coaches -
   26th and 27th June 2018.
3.  Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship - 28th - 30th June 2018.

I am further directed to inform you that in accordance with article 3.1 of the Code of Governance for National Sports Federation, the General Assembly shall be made up of NSF Board and (2) two delegates i.e Chairman and secretaries from each State Scrabble Federation including the Federal Capital Territory(FCT)  or their representatives. However, Scrabble players may be allowed to attend as observers.

Please note :

• Any State that is willing to attend the General Assembly should submit names of their delegates to the NSF Secretary-General, through mammansalisu74@gmail.com or SMS to 08065455517.
• All presentations during the Assembly should be sent to the NSF secretariat on or before 18th June 2018 to enable the Secretariat to capture it in the Agenda and copies made.
• General Assembly starts at 7.00pm prompt.
• Registration for Workshop/submission of names should be forwarded to the NSF Secretariat on or before 6th June 2018.

Accommodation

• The NSF will provide accommodation for Chairmen and Secretaries of the 36 States including FCT on 24th and 25th June 2018 for the General Assembly.
• The NSF will provide accommodation for the TD/Coaches Workshop(paid) on 25th, 26th, and 27th June 2018.
• The NSF will provide accommodation for National Championship on 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th June 2018.

Workshop Fee

A registration fee of N30, 000 will be paid by each participant.

Fees inclusive of Workshop Materials, Certificates, Breakfast, Lunch and Accommodation.

All participants are advised to come with their Laptops.

Certificates

Tournament Director Certificate will be presented to those who pass the test as Tournament Director/Coach/Adjudicator during the workshop.

Modalities for the 2018 Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship

1.  Each State to register a maximum of six players to participate in this year’s Championship.
2.  Defending Champion has an automatic slot
3.  Each State to pay a participating fee of N25, 000.00 to NSF Access Bank account not later than Friday 22nd June 2017
4.  All representatives MUST be licensed and their club affiliation fee paid
5.  Selection of States qualifiers to have been concluded not later than Monday 18th June 2018 and names submitted to the Technical Committee not later than Wednesday 20th June 2018
6.  Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship to be held from 28th – 30th June 2018 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).
7. Venue – Package B National Stadium Abuja.
8. The format of play 24 games using AU Pair:  Games 1 and 2, Australian draw, Games 3 -21 Lagged Australian and Games 22 -24 of King of the Hill.
9. Prize details:
   1. National Champion (Green jacket) – N150, 000.002.
   2. 1st Runner-up - Silver Medal - N100, 000.00
   3. 2nd Runner-up - Bronze Medal - N 50, 000.00
   4. Best State Trophy - N100, 000.00
   5. A trophy to be presented to the winner and medals to 1st-3rd positions.
   6. A trophy to be presented to the best-performing state team
   7. Accommodation to be provided for all participating states
   8. Tea break and Lunch will be provided
   9. Certificate of Participation will be given to all participating teams

Accept, please, the highest esteem of the NSF Board.