As the highly anticipated Ultimate Scrabble Showdown between African Champion Enoch Nwali and West African title holder Timilehin Doko approaches, Segun Durojaye, the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) Players’ Representative, has hailed the event as a significant positive influence on the game.
The showdown, set to take place from July 19-21 at Lekki, Lagos, will see the two champions face off over 21 rounds of intense scrabble play, with the winner claiming the bragging rights in this inaugural tournament.
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In a recent interview, Durojaye emphasized the competition’s importance, highlighting its role in engaging players and attracting younger talent to the sport.
“With so much at stake, it’s a good thing that Enoch Nwali and Timilehin Doko will be going head-to-head in a tournament like the Ultimate Scrabble Showdown. It’s a positive thing that Nigeria is hosting such a high-powered, high-stakes tournament.
These guys are arguably the best-emerging players in the circuit, and they have proven themselves at local and international tournaments,” Durojaye, known as the “Okocha of Scrabble,” remarked.
The tournament offers a top cash prize of 300,000 naira for the winner, while the runner-up will receive 200,000 naira. Durojaye expressed gratitude to the event’s initiator, Olatunde Oduwole, for his efforts in bringing the Ultimate Scrabble Showdown to life.
“Mr Olatunde Oduwole is a player who has given back to the game. For me, that’s the real win in all of this. Scrabble players who have found success must ensure the game continues to thrive by supporting the next generation of players,” he added.
Enoch Nwali solidified his dominance in October 2022 by winning the African Championship in Zambia and has since claimed titles at the Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble Tournament, Lekki Classics, and the Scrabble Festival in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
Timilehin Doko, the highest-ranked Nigerian in the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) rankings, recently finished as the runner-up at the 2023 MGI Scrabble Grand Slam before securing the WASC title in Lagos.
The Ultimate Scrabble Showdown promises to be a landmark event, highlighting African scrabble players’ talent and competitive spirit.
