Gateway Scrabble Club (SC) of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State has emerged as the champion of the highly prestigious 2025 NSF InterClub Scrabble Championship. In a commanding performance at the finals, Gateway SC, led by veteran Masters player Cyril Umebiye, outclassed the surprise finalists Yenagoa SC from Bayelsa State with a 4–1 victory, amassing a cumulative score of +1204 points.

Displaying remarkable team strength, Gateway SC notched up 20 wins out of 25 games. Current African champion Oluwatimilehin Doko led the charge with 5 wins and a +618 points margin. His teammate Abdulmumin Jimoh, also a national team player, secured 5 wins and +591 points. Rising star David Ojih and Hakeem Ogundokun dropped just one game each, while Captain Umebiye wrapped up with two wins and a -243 cumulative. Yenagoa SC’s players managed only a win each, with Ezekiel Eniekebi finishing with the highest point deficit of -350.

Gateway SC clinched the title in grand style, winning matches 1 and 2 by 4–1, narrowly losing match 3 (2–3), before sealing the championship with a flawless 5–0 in match 4. The team’s captain credited their success to strong management and generous support from the club’s chairman, Adekoyejo Adegbesan, who ensured players were well catered for throughout the tournament. “Our focus has always been on the game, thanks to the solid welfare structure put in place,” said Umebiye.

Benin City SC secured third place by defeating Central Scrabble Club A of Abuja, captained by Francis Molokwu. The InterClub MVP title went to Oluwatimilehin Doko, who also contributed to Team Ogun’s triumph in the Asaph Zadok National Championship. National coach Sir Anthony Ikolo praised youngsters David Ojih (Gateway SC) and David Yuwa (Central SC A) as standout talents. At the closing ceremony, George Ezinore was honored with the NSF Green Jacket and awarded ₦100,000 by the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Enabulele.