Enoch Nwali, on Sunday, August 25, 2024 successfully defended his Masters title in the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic title held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital.
The Ebonyi-born Nwali, a student of the University of Lagos, became the first player to achieve that feat. Previous winners in the Masters category of the tournament are Oshevire Avwenagha of Delta State, in the first edition and Nsikak Etim of Akwa Ibom State in the second edition. Nwali dusted 39 other scrabble players to cart home the N750,000 prize money along with a trophy.
From a total of 17 games that participants in the Masters category played, Nwali won 13 and lost only four, with a cumulative spread of plus 2229.
Nwali, who is the current African scrabble champion, has won the Nigerian Scrabble championship numerous times. According to the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) rankings, he is among the top 10 scrabble players globally.
Second placed Precious Igali, from Bayelsa State, won 12 of his 17 games with a cumulative spread of plus 140 while the second runner up, Okiemoye Tega, who is from Delta State, won the same number of games as Igali but with a spread of plus 139.
Igali smiled to the bank with the sum of N450,000 for his effort at the tournament while Tega was N330,000 richer after the tournament. Participants from 4th to 15th position were all given consolation prizes.
In the 72-man strong pool of players in the Intermediate category, Enai Doubra from Bayelsa, was shoulder high above all the other players to run away with the trophy and prize money.
To don the toga of the intermediate champion, Enai won 13 of his 17 games, drew one and lost three. He had a cumulative of plus 894.
Enai, who has won the Nigerian Scrabble Championship several times, is the winner of the Afr0ican Scrabble Championship in 2014 which was held in Lagos. He has represented Nigeria at the World Scrabble Championship and has participated in several international scrabble tournaments, including the World English-language Scrabble Players' Association (WESPA) Championship.
Kareem Jamiu and Okpakpor Obaro came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the intermediate category. Both players won 12 games each with Jamiu having a spread of plus 1090 while the second runner up enjoyed a plus 1007 spread.
Esan Dokun of Kogi State was adjudged the winner of the Veterans category after he won 13 of his 17 games and grabbing a spread of plus 1465. He was rewarded the sum of N375,000. He dethroned Ojior Oshikhena of Edo State, who won the title last year.
Oshikhena battled his way to place second in the highly competitive Veterans category. He recorded 13 wins. Olabode Olabiyi, who also won 13 games came 3rd. Oshikhena and Olabiyi had plus 585 and plus 507 spread, respectively. They went home with N220,000 and N165,000 respectively.
Esan Dokun, who is a notable figure in the Nigerian and African scrabble communities, has won the Nigerian Scrabble Championship multiple times. He has represented Nigeria at the African Scrabble Championship and has also participated in the World Scrabble Championship.
The Opens category champion was Nimibo Theophilus. He nicked 13 of 17 games and had a cumulative spread of plus 893. Bright Uzu and Ene Ketebu with 13 and 12 wins respectively, make up the top three in the Opens category.
In the Students category, exclusive to only students in Bayelsa State, Edide Pereowei proved to be the best of the lot. He won all 10 games in the students category, with a spread of plus 1590.
Two brothers, August Benharry and August Shanon came second and third respectively. While Benharry won eight games, his sibling won seven of the 10 games with plus 887 and plus 1234 cumulative spread respectively.
To encourage the women, there was an award for the best performing female player in each of the categories except the students category.
Mayuku Tuoyo, ranked No. 1 in Africa, was adjudged the best performing female player in the Masters category; in the Intermediate category it was Priscilla Akhabue; Imbiakpa Juliana grabbed the award in the Veterans category while the best performing female player in the Opens category was Blessing Ola.
Declaring the championship closed, Governor Douye Diri reiterated his administration's commitment to sports development, pointing out that the administration was deliberately using sports as a vehicle to combat crime and other social vices in the state.
Represented at the occasion by the Director of Sports, Sir Braveman Wodi, the governor said through investment in sports, the administration was positively engaging the youths of the state.
Noting that Bayelsa was fast becoming the hub of sports in the country, Governor Diri said the state had successfully hosted several sporting events and would continue to do so. He assured the participants that next year’s edition would be bigger and better.
President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Chief Olobatoke Aka, lauded the state governor for the continuous sponsorship of the scrabble tournament. Describing Bayelsa as a big scrabble playing state in the country, Engr. Aka urged the state government to introduce the game of scrabble in schools to further grow the game.
He used the opportunity to congratulate the governor on his electoral victory at the Supreme Court, saying that it is a sign of good things to come.
Earlier in an address of welcome, chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, announced with pride that the tournament witnessed over 250 participants. He said another thing that was unique about this year’s edition was that the prize money was increased.
Alabrah urged scrabble stakeholders in the country to work with other scrabble-playing nations to press for the inclusion of scrabble as an Olympic sport, pointing out that if that was successfully done, Nigeria, with its array of top-flight scrabble players would always return home from the Olympics with medals.
He said it was a thing of joy for him as the Chairman of the State Scrabble Association that two young Bayelsans, Edide Pereowei and August Benharry have been selected into the national scrabble team.
Highpoint of the event was the public presentation of a book titled "PYRAMIDS -- How to Play Scrabble Like a Pro" written by Ben Quickpen, who placed 6th in the Masters category.
