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)
Alfred Butts Scrabble club are the winners of the 3rd National Interclub Scrabble Championship.
Alfred Butts Scrabble Club receive their trophyThe Abuja based club named after the inventor of the game won 19 games and lost 6 out of 25 rounds and amassed a total of +3446 points to dethrone the defending champion Warri Scrabble Club (won 16, lost 9 +3361) who placed second. Surulere Scrabble Club team A placed 3rd winning 16 games +2434.
The Most Valuable Player award given to the best performing player was won by former African Champion Moshood Sanni of Surulere Scrabble Club who lost just two (2) games out of 25. He had 23 wins and lost 2 games with a total spread of +2101.
Moshood Sanni collects his MVP awardPresentation of prizes was done by the representative of the Hon. Minister of Sports, who presented the best club with their beautiful shield trophy, the outgoing NSF President, Engr. Toke Aka, the President-elect of the NSF Alh. Gora Suleiman and other board members. The closing ceremony was rounded up by a buffet dinner and gala at the Lapour Hotels Hall, venue of the championship.
Full results of the championship can be found on our tourney coverage and results section
The 6th Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics will be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria from the 27th to 30th September 2012. The event is sponsored by the executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Godswill Obot Akpabio and hosted by the good people of Uyo in the serene and hospitable Akwa Ibom state of Nigeria. The last edition of the Classics was won by Mr Sammy Okosagah, a Nigerian International Scrabble Master based in the U.K. He took home the sum of $10,000 (ten thousand US dollars) for his efforts. Scrabble players from all over the world are invited to this prestigious event, the highest paying Scrabble event ( in sum total of prize monies across categories) worldwide. The event is in 4 (four) categories (divisions): Masters, Intermediate, Open and Veterans categories.
No of Games: 28 games across all categories Lexicon: Colins Scrabble Words 2012 (CSW12) Rules: WESPA rules version 2 with a 10pt penalty for moves challenged.
See details of the event by on the Godswill Akpabio Classics event information page.
Winners emerged after 15 games were played in the three categories Masters, Open and Veterans.
In the Masters category, Etim Nsikan of Akwa-Ibom State emerged champion with 12 points +1338 to take home a beautiful plaque and the grand prize of N170,000, while Eromosele Samuel of Edo State had 12 points +642 to win the first prize of N100,000 in the Open category. Veteran Niyi Esan emerged champion in the Veteran category with 11 points +842 winning a cash prize of N100,000 and a plaque. Closing ceremony(video)
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August Friday 31st - September Sunday 2nd.
[/section] [section title="Venue"]
Confluence Hotels. Lokoja
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15 games at 20 minutes/player
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Registration
All intending players must register online after bank payment of registration fee. See link below.
Registration is inclusive of accommodation as follows:
NOTE:
All unlicensed players must include an additional registration fee of N8,000
Accommodation is for 2 nights only: Friday 31st August and Saturday 1st September night. Check out is on Sunday September 2nd.
Registration payment is as follows:
A discount of N4000 is allowed for each Female Player on all the above fees.
All payments to be made to Nigeria Scrabble Federation Access bank account No: 0005397374
All players must confirm their registration by completing the online registration after payment.
Online registration portal : http://www.nigeriascrabble.com/event/registration/
All players to come with boards and timers or be prepared to hire same from the NSF at a fee.
In order to curb noise making at our tournament venues: A deduction of 50 cumulative points (For either current game or next game) for first noise making apprehension will be applied; and a dismissal for 2nd apprehension.
Friday 31st August:
Arrival of all players/ guests check into allocated rooms.
Get together party with free drinks for all Residents - 9pm till midnight.
Saturday 1st September:
8am - 1pm Games 1-61pm - 2pm Lunch (provided) Break
2pm - 7pm games 7-12
Sunday 2nd September:
8am-11am Games 13-1511am-12noon Presentation of prizes
Departure of all players/Guests
| Position | Masters | Open | Veterans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 170. | 100. | 100 |
| 2nd | 80. | 50. | 50 |
| 3rd | 50. | 30. | 30 |
| 4th-5th | 30each. | 20each. | 20each |
| 6-10. | 20each | 15each. | -- |
All prizes are in (multiples of) thousands (Naira) e.g 30 = N30,000
In Masters: Top two Highest Placed but lowest rated players (Not placed within 1-10 position) will get a prizes of N20,000 each. N20,000 is also offered to be best finishing female Player in the Open category not in the prize sharing range (whichever is higher in case prize is lower than 20k).
NOTE: Prizes may still increase if sponsorship is received.
The first Diaspora Invitational Scrabble tournament for Nigerians in Diaspora was held on the 22nd of April 2012 in U.K . The event was organized by the President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation Toke Aka. The President emphasized the need for Nigeria Scrabble players in Diaspora to play regularly as a means of staying match fit and ready for International events. Nine (9) players were in attendance and competed in the NSF and ABSP rated tournament:
After nine 9 games the result were as follows:
I am directed to inform you that the Nigerian Scrabble Federation (NSF) has concluded arrangement to organize the under listed activities as scheduled below:
I am further directed to inform you that in accordance with article 2.1 of the General Administrative Guidelines 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 FCT or their representatives.
However, Scrabble players may be allowed to attend as observers.
Please note :
The NSF will provide accommodation for Chairmen and Secretaries of the 36 States including FCT on 25th November, 2011 for the General Assembly. The NSF will provide accommodation for Inter Club finalists on 26th and 27th November, 2011.
Registration fee of N25,000 will be paid by each participant.
Tournament Director Certificate will be presented to those who pass the test as Director during the workshop.
James Eakyns
Secretary General.
