Team Blazers created history by winning the first-ever Scrabble Premier League title in the country at the final weekend of the season held at the Lilygate Hotel in Lagos to take home the top prize of one million Naira and a giant trophy.
The team consisting of Oshevire Avwenagha, Cyril Umebiye, Sylvanus Ikpere, George Ezinore, Tega Okiemute, Larry Itua and Florence Akhiri moved above another strong contending 11 teams with a total win of 40 wins and 15 defeats after a gruelling 55 games of top scrabble action played in Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Lagos.
Team Brainiacs, Airpopper, Phoenix and Tekena Drones who earned the second, third, fourth and fifth positions received 500,000, 300,000, 200,000 and 100,000 Naira respectively.
Teams Supreme, Hurricanes, Olowoyeye Predators, Gracious Pickers, Bulldozers, Lekki Bombers and FRSC Roadies completed the 12-team League.
The Most Valuable Player Award along with a cash prize of 100, 000 Naira was coveted by Eta Karo of Team Brainiacs while Bukunmi Afolayan got some cash award for the best dressed female player.
“After placing third on Match Day One,” Team Manager/Player Avwenagha said revealing the strategy that turned the momentum in their favour, “And then came second in Abuja, I called my other teammates and we agreed that we must have a three-game lead at every time and that’s what worked for us. We already knew we were coming to Lagos for a picnic ”He concluded.
During the Awards and Gala Night filled with glitz and glamour, initiator of the MSPL Lukeman Owolabi, who is also a scrabble player urged individuals and corporate entities to lend their weight behind the lofty idea of creating an atmosphere for scrabble to be attractive.
He further revealed that the 2020 season of the MSPL will have two cadres; Division A and B.
Chairman of the occasion, the immediate past Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enelamah through a representative commended the MGI Chief on his efforts for bringing top players within and outside the country to compete in a league wrapped in high standards and professionalism.
One of the founding fathers of scrabble in Nigerian retired General Gold Eburu said he was elated with the level the sports has attained through the efforts of Mindgames Incorporated to push organising tournaments to a professional standard.
The MindGames Scrabble Premier League is the only championship where players organise themselves into teams and play an in a round-robin format across the country.
