In a bid to unearth and nurture exceptional Scrabble talent within the Southwest region of Nigeria, the eagerly anticipated second Southwest Closed Scrabble Championship is set to captivate enthusiasts in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
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Organizers have announced that the event is scheduled for tomorrow, promising a competitive and exhilarating showdown among participants hailing from Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Osun, and Ekiti states.
The Southwest Closed Scrabble Championship holds significant importance as it aims to groom players for both national and international tournaments. T
he distinguished roster of participants includes students from secondary and tertiary institutions, who will seize the opportunity to test their skills against seasoned Scrabble veterans.
Among the luminaries present will be Enoch Nwali, the African and EEAST champion, who recently represented Nigeria at the esteemed World English Language Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) held in the United States of America.
The tournament structure is set to encompass three categories: Opens, Intermediate, and Master.
A total of 12 rounds of games will be fiercely contested, each player’s rating dictating their placement in one of these categories—minimum ratings stipulated at 1100, 1101-1399, and 1400, respectively.
Emmanuel Egbele, the South West Zonal representative at the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), lauded the timing of the championship, viewing it as an invaluable opportunity for players to fine-tune their skills ahead of the impending President’s Cup and the Dr. Winifred Awosika African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC), both scheduled for this month. He also emphasized the event’s role in preparing players for the highly anticipated National Sports Festival in the following year.
Egbele remarked, “This edition provides a unique chance for participants to engage with players who recently competed in WESPAC.
Their direct experiences will undoubtedly serve as a vital platform for our players in preparation for AYSC and the President’s Cup.
Moreover, the tournament’s locale, Abeokuta, Ogun State, will host the 2024 National Sports Festival, rendering this event even more pivotal.”
Reflecting on the championship’s growth since its inaugural edition in Ibadan, Oyo State, Egbele shared, “The Southwest Closed Scrabble Tournament has undeniably left its mark.
It has played a pivotal role in fostering the influx of new talents from grassroots levels. Notably, it was the platform where Adeyemi Adeosun secured his first Scrabble title.”
The stakes are high, with the victors of this one-day event standing to gain substantial rewards, including a coveted cash prize of N250,000, alongside other coveted prizes.
As the scrabble community converges on Abeokuta, expectations are set for an intense and unforgettable display of skill and strategy, poised to leave a lasting impact on the Southwest’s thriving scrabble landscape.
