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By: Peter Akinbo.
Nigerian players were dominant at the maiden Pan African Scrabble Association’s Winifred Awosika Foundation African Youth Scrabble Championship.
The competition saw 88 players from Kenya, Liberia, Ghana, Uganda and Nigeria engage in intense mind games over four days.
David Ojih and Prestige Archibong from Team Nigeria emerged as the frontrunners in the U-19 and U-15 categories respectively. Ojih secured the top position after competing in 24 rounds of challenging matches, winning 19 games and losing five and accumulating an impressive score spread of plus 2022.
Ojih’s remarkable performance led him to the forefront from Day 2 of the competition, while Joy Ola secured the second spot with 28 wins and a cumulative score of plus 1097. Lateef Musa claimed the third position with 17 victories and a cumulative points tally of plus 1012.
In the U-15 event, Archibong continued Nigeria’s dominance with a remarkable display, winning 16 games with a cumulative score spread of plus 2614 to secure the top spot. Quodos Aliu was second with 13 wins and a cumulative score spread of plus 1358, with Clinton Imode claiming the third position.
The sum of $9,000 and other prizes like laptop, tablets and smart phones were shared to the winners of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Godwin Victor is the new king of the PANASA President’s Cup.
Victor’s journey to victory was highlighted by a challenging final against former world champion Wellington Jighere. Victor emerged victorious with a score of 3-2 and a cumulative points advantage of plus 101 at the Orchid Hotel, Ikota-Lekki, Lagos.
To reach the final, Victor overcame Adeyemi Adeosun in the semi-final 3-0 and a cumulative point total of 236. In the other semi-final game, Jighere produced a dominant performance against John Aiyedun with a higher cumulative score spread of 512.
Victor received the cash prize of $5,000 and the prestigious Gbenga Ojofeitimi trophy.
Players from 10 countries, including Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Uganda, the United States of America and Nigeria, participated in the President’s Cup.