Nigeria’s wordsmith star, Oluwatimilehin Doko has won the 15th edition of the African Scrabble Championship concluded in Kigali, Rwanda on the 27th of October to become the youngest ever to be crowned Africa Champions at 24, Sports247 reports.
The young Scrabble enigma and pharmacist who graduated from the University of Lagos won the championship in style with 1 game to spare, to set new record in style .
Oluwatimilehin Doko started his voyage to the zenith of African scrabble on Thursday at the Olympic Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda with a first round victory over Godwin Murungi of Uganda, 487-423. A 64 point margin win and he closed Day 1 with 7 wins from 8 games.
He began Day 2 with a 497-420 defeat at the hands of Tournament’s 5th seed, Abdulmumin Jimoh and from then onward, Doko climbed to table 1 in round 13 and that is where he lodged through out the rest of the championship.
In round 31 were he clinched the diadem, the unique and talented wordsmith smashed Abdulmumin Jimoh with a winning margin of 152 points, it ended 574-422 with a game to spare, recording 24 wins and a huge 2082 cumulative points.
This is the 14th time a Nigerian is winning the championship, Oluwatimilehin Doko’s school and club mate, Enoch Nwali won the competition two years ago in Lusaka, Zambia at the expense of another Nigerian Wellington Jighere.
Oluwatimilehin Doko, who was refused a visa to the USA last year to participate in the World Championship is also the current West African Scrabble Championship, King.
The CEO of Ultimate Scrabble Showdown Solutions Limited, Olatunde Oduwole, described the young Oluwatimilehin Doko as an enigma, a conquer, potentate and all these attributes makes him a complete scrabble player.
Doko, the contender at the maiden edition of the Ultimate Scrabble Showdown in Nigeria is currently the second highest ranked African player in the world at number 9 behind Enoch Nwali at number 6.
“Oluwatimilehin Doko is unique, talented, gifted and most of all very humble. He’s passionate about the game of words, reads and studies a lot, he’s friendly, always willing to learn. That’s the mark of a true champion,” Oduwole stated.
“I’m very elated and excited with this massive achievement by Doko, it sends the right signal and message to young players and students that hard work, commitment and dedication coupled with divine blessings and favour will elevate you as well as reward you too,” Olatunde Oduwole, the multiple national champion added.
