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.
Edo State’s George Ezinore has emerged champion of the prestigious 2025 Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship, solidifying his place among Nigeria’s elite wordsmiths. The tournament, hosted at Florence Hotel and Suites in Benin City, Edo State, featured Nigeria's finest, including African champion Oluwatimilehin Doko, former NSF Green Jacket holder Dipo Akanbi, and seasoned champion John Aiyedun. Ezinore's remarkable consistency saw him finish with 20 wins, one draw, and a cumulative score of +922 from 28 games, edging out Rivers State's Larry Etuwa, who recorded 19 wins.
Representing Ogun State, Samuel Adebola secured third place with 18 wins and a higher cumulative of +1236 points, narrowly surpassing Oyo State’s Jamiu Kareem, who also had 18 wins but a lower cumulative of +525. Ezinore’s commanding performance saw him dominate from game 13 through to the final round, a testament to his preparation and focus amidst stiff competition from top-ranked players.
After several close attempts in previous years, Ezinore expressed fulfillment at finally capturing the coveted NSF Green Jacket. He dedicated his victory to scrabble players in Edo State and the Edo State Sports Commission, whose support he described as pivotal. “This win proves that consistent investment in sports yields great results. I’m proud to bring this honor home to Edo,” he shared. His near-miss at the recent Niger Delta Sports Festival only fueled his determination for this historic win.
The Awards and Gala Night on Thursday 17th of April saw Ezinore officially decorated with the Green Jacket. In the team event, Ogun State claimed top honors, followed by Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Edo State Sports Commission, under Honourable Desmond Enabulele’s leadership, was also commended for fostering sports development and enabling a thriving competitive environment.
The annual week-long festivities organized by the Nigeria Scrabble Federation concluded fittingly on Sunday with the NSF Awards and Gala Night.
The 2024 NSF Scrabble Festival featured the Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship, the Federation's Annual General Meeting, the NSF Inter-Club Challenge Finals, and the Awards and Gala Night.
The Awards and Gala Night saw the presence of the Ogun State Commissioner of Sports, Honourable Isiaka Wasiu, the Head of the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, Mr Gbolahun Okeowo, the President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Engineer Toke Aka, the chairman of the Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, and the Technical Director of the Federation, John Curtis. It also honored the best players of the 2023 Scrabble season and the winners of the two major events at the Scrabble Festival.
Enoch Nwali clinched the 2024 Asaph Zadok National Championship with 20 wins and a draw from 28 games, achieving a +1220 cumulative spread. He was honored by the Ogun State Commissioner of Sports, Isiaka Wasiu, who served as the guest of honor at the Awards night, and was awarded the NSF Green Jacket.
In the individual category, the second position was secured by Lagos State's John Aiyedun, while Ogun State's Oluwatimilehin Doko finished third.
In the Team event of the National Championship, Team Delta claimed the 1st position, with Lagos State securing the second place.
Host Ogun State finished commendably in 3rd place with 93 victories and a +2684 points.
The NSF Inter-Club Challenge title was clinched by Pyramid Scrabble Club of Lagos, led by scrabble warriors John Aiyedun, Dipo Akanbi, Ayomisipo Akinfemisoye, Olawole Ogedengbe, Adegboyegha Akintokun, and Osaghaede Omijeh.
Surulere SC, featuring a star-studded team including captain Olumide Oyejide, Hakeem Olaribighe, Opeyemi Oloro Joseph Okere, Olatunde Adigun, and Sunday Ituah, secured the 2nd position in the Inter-Club Finals.
UNILAG SC, initially leading on Day 1 and 2 until Pyramids SC claimed the first spot, finished 3rd. Their team included prominent players like African Champion Enoch Nwali, West Africa Champion Oluwatimilehin Doko, Musa Lateef, Africa Youth Scrabble Champion David Ojih, Tunde Saporu, Kareem Jamiu, and Babajide Alagbada.
Oluwatimilehin Doko of UNILAG Scrabble Club was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the NSF Inter-Club Challenge, winning 24 out of 30 points, and also received the Longest Number One on the Rating Award for the 2023 season.
Sylvanus Ikpere was named the Most Improved Male Player - 2023.
Joy Ola, the 13th African Games gold medalist, was recognized as the Most Improved Female Player of the outgoing scrabble season.
Tega Okiemute was honored with the award for the most rated games in the 2023 season.
All the winners were generously rewarded for their outstanding performances in the 2023 season and the Scrabble Festival.
Current African Scrabble Champion and University of Lagos undergraduate, Enock Nwali, has won the 2024 Asaph Zadok National Championship title. He won 20 games, drew 1 and accumulated a +1220 spread after 28 rounds of games. (more…)
The general guidelines governing the Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship, scheduled to hold from 15th - 17th April, 2024 in Ijebu-Ode (Ogun State), are as detailed below:
The 2024 National Scrabble Festival will commence from the 15th to the 21st of April in Abeokuta Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state. The festival is a major event organised annually by the Nigeria Scrabble Federation and it comprises of two tournaments viz; the Asaph Zadok National Championship and the NSF Inter Club Challenge. The Annual General Meeting of the Federation will be held during the festival which will be rounded up with an Awards and Gala night.
Twelve Scrabble clubs have already qualified to vie for honours in Ogun State during the Inter-Club Challenge. Each state of the federation is expected to present players to compete at the Asaph Zadok National Championship. The winner of the championship will be presented with a trophy, cash prize and a green jacket designated for the national champion.
Delta State are the defending champions of the Asaph Zadok National Championship, while Eta Paul Karo is the holder of the National Championship title. Warri Scrabble Club are the defending champions of the Inter-Club Challenge.
Further information on the modalities and time-table for the two events will be posted soon.
Click here for guidelines for the 2024 Inter-Club Challenge Finals
The lineup for the NSF Inter Club Challenge Abeokuta-2024 is now complete following the South-South Zonal Play-off in Benin City, Edo State. Benin Scrabble Club, Victory Scrabble Club of Warri, and Uyo Scrabble Club have secured their spots for the finals in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Benin Scrabble Club led the pack with 10 wins and a cumulative points of plus 1287, followed by Victory Club with 9 wins and plus 1390 points. Uyo Scrabble Club, despite a tough run, garnered 6 wins. Unfortunately, Yenagoa Scrabble Club could not make it to the finals, finishing at the bottom with a minus 1035 cumulative points.
In the South-West playoff, UNILAG Scrabble Club, under the leadership of Enoch Nwali, dominated their group with three wins, securing their place in the finals alongside other clubs like Pyramid Scrabble Club and Surulere Scrabble Club. Surulere Club made it to the NSF Inter Club Challenge finals as winners of the second chance playoff of the South West Zone. They edged out Ibadan Scrabble Club and Lekki Scrabble Club with, three wins and a plus 450 cumulative points.
28 clubs from 13 states and the Nigeria Police Club competed in the qualifiers to make it to the finals. The NSF Inter Club Challenge promises intense competition at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta between April 15 to 21, 2024. The qualifiers are as follows:
Apart from the Inter Club Challenge, other events lined up for the NSF Scrabble Festival include the Asaph Zadok National Championship, the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and the Awards and Gala Night.
Edited from news stories by Maxwell Kumoye
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:
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.
All states/FCT shall enter a minimum of 1 player and a maximum of 6 players as representative(s).
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.
A total number of 28 games shall be played over 3 days for the purpose of the National Championship.
Schedule:
Deadline for submission of player/s entries by states/FCT is Wednesday 15th March, 2023.
All current WESPA & NSF Rules/ Guidelines will apply during the Qualifiers/Grand Finale, except otherwise stated.
Collins Scrabble Words (CSW) 2021 - Updated.
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.
