Wellington National Champion 2019

The 29th edition of the Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship begins today at the National Stadium Abuja as part of the Festival of Scrabble this week from the 2oth to the 26th of March 2023.  Fifty-eight (58) players will be competing for the Green Jacket - the ultimate symbol of Scrabble Mastery in Nigeria. The players were drawn from eleven states and will be joined by 4 (four) NSF wildcard players and players from the Nigerian Navy.  2019 winner and defending champion Wellington Jighere is among the top Scrabble players who shall compete for honors.  Other top players like Eta Karo (2005 champion), Dipo Akanbi (2017 champion), Dennis Ikekeregor, Emmanuel Umujose, and Olatunde Oduwole (winner, 2016) are also among the top contenders for the prize. (more…)

The 2023 NSF Inter-Club Challenge Grand Finale will hold in Abuja as part of activities of the week-long 1st NSF Scrabble Festival Abuja from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th of March 2023. (more…)

The general guidelines that would govern the Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship which scheduled to hold from 20th - 22nd March, 2023 in Abuja, are as detailed below:

Eligibility

Eligible States: All states and the FCT.

Eligible Players: All Players Licensed (through NSF Affiliated Clubs which they belong) for the 2022/2023 Scrabble season.

Participation and Representatives

All states/FCT shall enter a minimum of 1 player and a maximum of 6 players as representative(s).

Registration

Player Registration: A sum of 10,000 only shall be paid as player registration for each player entered by a state/FCT to participate in the Championship.
State Affiliation: Every State/FCT must pay her State Affiliation fee of 30,000.0 only for 2023 to the Scrabble Federation.

Number of Games

A total number of 28 games shall be played over 3 days for the purpose of the National Championship.

Schedule:

1. Day 1 - 10 games
2. Day 2 - 10 games
3. Day 3 - 8 games

Entries Submission Deadline

Deadline for submission of player/s entries by states/FCT is Wednesday 15th March, 2023.

Activities Schedule

•  Arrivals/ Accreditation/ Briefing 19th March, 2023
• Opening/Games - Day 1 20th March, 2023
• Games - Day 2 21st March, 2023
• Games - Day 3/Ratings 22nd March, 2023

Game Rules

All current WESPA & NSF Rules/ Guidelines will apply during the Qualifiers/Grand Finale, except otherwise stated.

Dictionary

Collins Scrabble Words (CSW) 2021 - Updated.

Time Allotment

25 minutes will be allotted each player per game/round.

Please note: Any further information would be communicated accordingly by the Technical Director John Curtis.

Jighere Wellington outscored 43 other players representing all the states of the Federation to become the Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Champion held from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th August 2019. The annual event named in honour of the former Grand Patron of the NSF, was held at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja. The tournament was graced with the presence of the Honorable Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare on the opening day. The minister revealed his delight in meeting the Nigeria Scrabble players and officials. He also expressed his belief that the National Championships "deserves more media coverage and support" on his Twitter handle.

With five games remaining it was evident that this year's national champion title was between three former African Champions viz Wellington, Moses Peter (defending National Champion) and Dennis Ikekeregor.

The ongoing National Scrabbles Championship deserves more media coverage and support, as do other sports. - Sunday Dare (Hon. Minister of Sports)

Wellington took over the lead from Moses Peter at round 21 by beating him 529-286 on Table 1 but by round 23 it was Dennis who occupied the apex leading with a point after a heavy 487-299 win against Wellington. The final round (24) was going to be the decider. Going into the final round, Wellington (18-5 +1957) paired against Ikekeregor needed only to win by any margin because of his hefty +1957 spread. Ikekeregor (19-4 +1241) needed at least a draw as he had the highest points while Moses (18-5 +1066) playing against Oshevire Avwenagha on table 2 could only aim for the second position.

Wellington showed resilience to beat Ikekeregor 407-374 for the title while defending champion, Moses Peter defeated Oshevire Avwenagha 516-355 to finish in second place. Ikekeregor finished in third while former national champion Olatunde Oduwole and Igali Precious placed fourth and fifth respectively.

GM Wellington who represented Delta State was presented with a trophy, two-hundred thousand naira cash prize and the traditional Green Jacket by the President NSF, Suleiman Gora at the closing ceremony. Delta State also won the Best State Trophy with Bayelsa and Oyo, the first and second runners-up respectively.

Mr Peter Moses from Akwa-Ibom state, emerged the champion of 2018 Asaph Zadok  National Scrabble Championship held in Abuja from Friday, June 29th to Sunday 1st July 2018. Moses Peter who was third at the 2017 edition, had 7.5 points with an spread of +1247 after 24 rounds to push his closest contender Mr Ogedengbe Olawale to the second place.  Moses Peter got a cash prize of N150,000 along with a trophy and the green jacket signifying his admission into the elite group of Nigeria Scrabble Champions.

Mr Ogedengbe Olawale of Lagos state, came second with 17.5 points and a spread of +939. He won a cash prize of N100,000. Former World Champion Wellington Jighere of Delta state came third with 17 wins and a +453 spread, winning a cash prize of N50,000. Click here for full results and player by player statistics of the tournament

Prior to the tournament a workshop was held for over 100 tournament directors and adjudicators and Tournament Director Certificates were presented to qualified participants by the NSF President Alhaji Suleiman Gora

Engr Dipo Akanbi, representing Lagos state, emerged the 2017 National Scrabble Champion by winning the 2017 edition of the Asaph Zadok  National Scrabble Championship held in Abuja. He won 18 games with an spread of +743 to dethrone 2016 national champion Olatunde Oduwole who finished in fourth place.  For his effort Dipo Akanbi won a cash prize of N150,000 along with a trophy and the green jacket signifying his admission into the elite group of Nigeria National Scrabble Champions.

Dayo Tayo, also of Lagos state, came second with 16.5 points and a spread of +346. He won a cash prize of N100,000. Moses Peter of Akwa Ibom came third with 16 wins and a +1351 spread, winning a cash prize of N50,000.

Team Lagos retained the title as the best state with five out of their six players emerging in the top six.  Lagos won a trophy and a cash prize of N100,000. Delta and Akwa Ibom came second and third best respectively .   Wellington Jighere, the 2016 WESPAC world scrabble champion finished 14th on the score table with 14 wins and +1076 cumulative spread.

Mr Olatunde Oduwole  joined the elite group of Nigeria National Scrabble Champions with his victory at the 2016 Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship held from the 15th to 17th of April in Abuja.  He emerged the best among 61 other top Nigeria-based Scrabble players including current World Scrabble Champion Jighere Wellington whom he edged out on cumulative points after both players had garnered 19 wins each in 24 rounds. The World Champion had led the pack for most of the tournament until round 22, the first round of the King of the Hill when Oduwole beat him  363-455 to momentarily take the top spot. Mr Jighere took the next game (round 23) 443-418 to regain the leadership with a point which meant Oduwole had to beat him in the final round to take the title. This Oduwole did 497-399 to finish first and become the National Scrabble Champion with 19 points and a cummulative spread of +1856. Wellington with 19 wins +1180 was first runner-up while former African Champion Mr Rex Ogbakpa came third with a tally of 17-1-6 +938.

The National Scrabble Champion was later presented with the Green Jacket, a trophy and cash prize of 250,000 Naira. Cash prizes and plaques were also presented to the first and second best players and the best performing team. 62 players  including a female (Sule Success) drawn from State Scrabble Associations after qualifiers at the State level competed at the National Championship. Click here for final results of the championship.

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The Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship is slated for Friday 15th - Sunday 17th April 2016. Arrival is Thursday 14th April. Games commence on Friday 15th April. A total of 24 games will be played over a three day period. Friday - 9 games, Saturday - 9 games and Sunday - 6 games. Venue(tentative) - National Stadium Package B.

Participants are selected from qualifying tournaments from participating states. Each State is represented by 4 players with 2 reserve players.

The Championship will produce the National Champion  who will receive a  Gold medal (and a Green Jacket) plus  N 150, 000.00 prize money. The first runner up will take home a Silver medal  and N100, 000.00 cash prize while the second-runner-up prize is a Bronze medal and N50,000.00 cash prize. The overall  Best State will collect  a trophy and N100, 000.00.

Tournament website

Moses Peter of Akwa-Ibom State emerged the 2012 National Scrabble Champion with 19 wins +1288 cummulative points. Tayo Saheed of Ogun State and Rasheed Balogun of Oyo State placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. The best placed State trophy was won by Kano State who had the best result (per player) in the competition.

Date: 6th April - 8th April 2012 Venue: Millenium Hotel Zone 5 Wuse Abuja. FCT Prizes:

• National Champion: Trophy + Green Jacket + Certificate + N150,000
• 1st runner-up: Certificate + N70,000
• 2nd runner-up: Certificate + N30,000

Certificates of participation will be given to all participants.

Round by round results
Photos

Current Standings

Results after round 24

Rank  Player            Wins      Mar           State
  1   Moses Peter         19      1288		AkwaIbom
  2   Saheed Tayo         17       467	        Ogun
  3   Balogun Rasheed     16       841		Oyo
  4   Mohammed Aminu      15       998		Kano
  5   Ikekeregor Dennis   15       712		Delta
  6   Ogbogu Azu          15       587		Edo
  7   Curtis John         15       365		Abuja
  8   Ikolo Anthony       15       284		Rivers 2
  9   Igwe Jerry          15      -100		Abuja
 10   Oshevire Awenagha   14       762		Delta
 11   Kabir Olaiya        14       590		Kano 1
 12   Akanbi Dipo         14       466		Lagos
 13   Oshodi Sunday       14       419		Rivers
 14   Okoye Charles       14       405		Rivers
 15   Ogedengbe Olawale   14       219		Lagos
 16   Okagbue Ajuluchukwu 14        33		Kaduna
 17   Ishekwene Frank     14       -20		Lagos
 18   Nsikan Etim         13.5    1043		Akwa Ibom
 19   Isong Williams      13       481		Akwa Ibom
 20   Venayori Kingha     13       475		Kano
 21   Adegbola Abiola     13       223		Oyo
 22   Bob Okoridem        13       218		Akwa Ibom
 23   Edewor Bobor        13       152		Delta
 24   Olowu Tokunbo       13        13		Lagos
 25   Ebomah Peter        13      -247		Abuja
 26   Fashola Kayode      12.5      99		Oyo
 27   Gbaraba Raymond     12       733		Rivers
 28   Eta Karo            12       426		Delta
 29   Oyebola Alli        12       237		Abia
 30   Okim Eugene         12       160		Abuja
 31   Nnamani Chris       12      -196		Abia
 32   Ojior Osikhena      12      -226		Rivers
 33   Ekwenugo Emeka      12      -289		Abuja
 34   Lawandy Bala        11.5     247		Abuja
 35   Jack Mpakaboari     11.5     -60		Rivers
 36   Amana Mohammed      11.5    -214		Kogi
 37   Gora Suleiman       11.5    -447		Abuja
 38   Ehibudu Chux        11       183		Abuja
 39   Hakeem Kareem       11       -22		Abuja
 40   Isiekwe Austine     11      -270		Kano
 41   Achema Daniel       11      -298		Kogi
 42   Salisu Zakari       11      -384		Zamfara
 43   Ude Emmanuel        10.5    -696		Lagos
 44   Idogbe Donatus      10      -155		Kaduna
 45   Umogbai Andrew      10      -225		Lagos
 46   Idahosa Bright      10      -284		Edo
 47   Timi Olaitan        10      -351		Lagos
 48   Lawali Garba        10      -526		Zamfara
 49   Pius Alhassan       10      -799		Kaduna
 50   Akpan Edward         9       -14		Abuja
 51   Fashoba Ayo          9      -339		Kogi
 52   Chukwukelu Peter     8.5    -264		Abuja
 53   Auwal Ibrahim        8      -389		Kano
 54   Ladan Sani           8      -439		Zamfara
 55   Garba Zurmi          8     -1311		Zamfara
 56   Hassan Bajini        8     -1346		Zamfara
 57   Joseph Ekechi        7     -1038		Kogi
 58   Ibrahim Bamuche      4     -2177		Zamfara
HIGH GAME: Auwal Ibrahim     618

See full results here