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 Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship is scheduled to take place from April 11th - 13th, 2025, in Benin City, Edo State. Below are the general guidelines governing the event.
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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.
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.
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 general guidelines governing the NSF Inter-Club Challenge Competition Grand Finale - 2023/2024, scheduled to hold from 19th - 21st April, 2024 in Ijebu-Ode (Ogun State), are as detailed in the Table 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
Four additional teams have secured spots in the finals of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation Inter Club Championship, set to take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West Nigeria.
The University of Lagos Scrabble Club, Ikorodu Scrabble Club, Pyramid Scrabble Club, and Surulere Scrabble Club, all from Lagos State, earned their places in the finals during the South West Zonal Playoff. 
Under the leadership of Enoch Nwali, current African Scrabble Champion, the University of Lagos Scrabble Club dominated group A, defeating Ibadan Scrabble Club and BSP Scrabble Club. Ibadan Scrabble Club finished second in group A, with BSP Scrabble Club coming in third.
Pyramid Scrabble Club, led by Dipo Akanbi, a former NSF Green Jacket holder, advanced to the final phase of the championship with wins over Surulere Scrabble Club and Egbin Scrabble Club in group B. Ikorodu Scrabble Club secured three wins in group C, outperforming Lekki Scrabble Club and the newly-formed Alausa Scrabble Club. Surulere Scrabble Club qualified for the finals as winners of the second chance Play-Off, defeating Ibadan Scrabble Club and Lekki Scrabble Club.
Kaduna Central Scrabble Club was the first team to secure their place in the finals after defeating South Side Scrabble Club to claim the Northwest slot. Apex Scrabble Club of Abuja, led by Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) Technical Director John Curtis, also qualified for the finals from the North Central Zonal Play-Off.
Jos Scrabble Club and Anambra Scrabble Club have also secured their places in the finals, with the South South Zone yet to decide its Play-Off.
Teams through to the finals include Jos Scrabble Club, Apex Scrabble Club, Anambra Scrabble Club, Abeokuta Scrabble Club: the host city club, Kaduna Central Scrabble Club, Surulere Scrabble Club, Ikorodu Scrabble Club, Pyramid Scrabble Club, and the University of Lagos Scrabble Club.
Twenty-eight clubs from thirteen states and the Nigeria Police participated in the race to reach the finals of the NSF Inter Club Championship. The Inter Club Championship is part of the NSF Scrabble Festival, which also includes the Asaph Zadok National Championship, the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and the Awards and Gala Night.
Delta State is the defending champion of the Asaph Zadok National Championship, with Eta Paul Karo currently holding the NSF Green Jacket.
Edited from reports by Maxwell Kumoye, head, NSF Media and Publicity
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.
