The 4th edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship is set to take place next month in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. Scheduled from the 23rd to the 25th of August 2024, this highly anticipated event will be hosted at the Biriye Conference Centre of the Golden Tulip Hotel in Onopa, Yenagoa. The championship is known for drawing the finest Scrabble players across Nigeria and is expected to be a thrilling competition.
This year's championship will feature five categories: Masters, Intermediate, Veterans, Opens, and a special category for students based in Bayelsa State. Additionally, there are special prizes designated for female players. A total of 6.5 million naira has been set aside as prize money, with the Most Valuable Player in the Masters category standing to win a sum of 750,000 naira along with a trophy.
The Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association (BYSA), Mr. Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the new dates for the event following consultations with the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF). Originally scheduled for July 27 and 28, the championship was postponed due to logistical reasons. Mr. Alabrah assured that preparations are underway to ensure a smooth and successful tournament, which is expected to be the best since the championship's inception in 2021.
The current African Scrabble champion, Enoch Nwali, won the Masters category in last year's edition. With the increased prize money and heightened anticipation, this year’s competition is set to be even more exciting, attracting top talent from across the country.
DATE - Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August, 2024.
VENUE - Dappa Biriye Conference Centre, Golden Tulip Hotel, Onopa, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Registration (at nominal) closes on Wednesday 21st August, 2024 (at midnight). There would be allowance for Late Registration on Thursday 22nd August, 2024 only. However, late registration would attract the following penalties:
All Current WESPA & NSF Rules will apply, except otherwise stated. There will be 25 minutes will be allotted each player per Game/Round.
Dictionary: Collins Scrabble Words Dictionary, 2021.
Scrabble Players that have paid their obligatory Player Annual Subscriptions through duly Affiliated Clubs for 2024/2025 Scrabble season.
Note: Defaulting players are liable to a Fine of ₦5,000.0 (otherwise they make payments for their Club Affiliation/Annual Subscription) before being admitted to participate in the Tournament.
The tournament shall be NSF rated.
Bank transfer to: BAYELSA SCRABBLE ASSOCIATION Zenith Bank - 1214067584
Please note: Every player is admonished to come along with a complete set of basic Standard (and clean) Scrabble Equipment/Paraphernalia (at the least), of which must include:
The Equipment items listed above are to be submitted at the tournament venue a day before Tournament commencement (i.e. on Friday 23rd August, 2024) or on Tournament day (i.e. on Saturday 24th August, 2024) - before 8.30am as all games shall commence by 9.00am prompt.
Members of Nigeria's squad to the forthcoming Scrabble World Championship holding later this month in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, dominated the top places at the just concluded 3rd edition of Governor Douye Diri National Championship.
Las Vegas bound Enoch Tochukwu Nwali, dropped just three games to emerge champion after two days of grueling competition among the top 50 Masters players. He secured 12 wins and a cumulative points of plus 705.
Another member of Team Nigeria to the World Championship, Nsikak Etim who won the Engineer Toke Aka National Jubilee Championship and also the defending champion, came a close second with 11 wins and plus 726 cumulative points ahead of Emmanuel Ofidi who recorded 11 wins but with a lower cumulative points of 343.
Former World Champion Wellington Jighere who started the final day of the championship in the 36th spot navigated his way into the top ten. His 9 wins and a plus 580 cumulative points kept Jighere in the 9th position ahead of Doko Oluwatimilehin another member of Team Nigeria in the 10th spot with 9 wins and plus 576 cumulative points on the final table of the championship named after the current Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri.
It is interesting to note that no player has been able to defend the Masters title successively. In 2021, Oshivere Avwenegha was crowded champion and a year later, he was dethroned by Nsikak Etim a former African Champion.
Enoch Nwali took the top honour this year along with half a million cash prize.
The Opens title went to Clement Ijegbulem, Chuks Nwaeze came second while Tariyei Alari completed the podium in third place.
Ojior Osikhena who won the Veterans category in first edition of the championship, beat the 24 man field to take the Veteran top position in year's event. Azu Ogbogu and Dokun Esan were second and third respectively in the Veterans category.
John Adeleke won the Youth (students) category with 7 wins and plus 1221 cumulative points. August Shanon came second while Edide Pereowei came third.
Over three million naira was shared among the top ranked competitors in the tournament.
As reported by Maxwell Kumoye (NSF Media and Publicity)
The 3rd annual Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship will hold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from the 8th to the 9th of July 2023.
The second edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship will take place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from July 15 to 17 2022. Over five million nairas in prize monies will be won by participants in the competition.
July 15-17, 2022
Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa
Best Female - N50,000.00 (Masters)
Consolation Prizes for three (3) Best Female (Intermediate) – N40,000.00, N30,000 & N20,000 respectively
Consolation Prizes for three (3) Best Female in Open – N30,000.00, N20,000 & N10,000 respectively
Consolation Prize for one (1) Best Female – N45,000.00
All consolation prizes for females will be given irrespective of whether the person has won other prizes or not.
Registration closes Thursday, July 14, 2022. Registration fee should be paid to:
Account name: Bayelsa State Scrabble Association
Account number: 1214067584
Zenith Bank
Contact Bayelsa Scrabble Association on 08062394553 for more information.
