Nigeria Scrabble Federation name 26 players for World Cup Qualifiers

The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), has named a 26 man list for the World Championship Qualifiers which holds this weekend in Sapele, Delta State.

The list which was made public on Monday, by the NSF is dominated by players from Warri Scrabble Club, Benin Scrabble and Yenagoa Scrabble Club. Warri Scrabble Club has six players, Benin Scrabble Club and Yenagoa Scrabble Club have four players each.

Apex SC, Central Scrabble Club Abuja, Shell Scrabble Club, Surulere SC, Abeokuta Scrabble Club, Unilag SC, Pyramid Scrabble Club of Lagos and Sapele Scrabble Club are the other Clubs that the players are drawn from.

23 of the 26 players Invited for the Qualifiers are male while double National Sports Festival gold medalist Malafakumo Best Akpos, Bukunmi Afolayan and Tuoyo Mayuku are the amazons that the made the cut.

Former African and World Champion, Wellington Jighere, who is the current national number one player as well as the highest ranked African in the world at the moment is the biggest name on the roaster.

Four other African Champions, current African Champion, Enoch Nwali, two times African Champion, Dennis Ikekeregor, 2004 African Champion, Nsikak Etim and Wale Fashina who won the African Championship in 1998 will be heading to Sapele for the grueling battle to make Team Nigeria squad to the World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in July.

Other wordsmith called up for the three day Qualifiers are, current West African Champion, Eta Karo, Doko Oluwatimilehin, Prince Omosefe, Oshevire Avwengha, who captained Team Nigeria to the last African Scrabble Championship in Lusaka, Champion of Champions, Olatunde Oduwole, Emmanuel Umujose, Emmanuel Ofidi, Cyril Umebiye and Okiemute Tega.

Ben Quickpen, Jimoh Abdulmumin, Ezinore George, Joseph Aniso, Victor Godwin, Hakeem Olaribigbe, David Yuwa, Anthony Odok and Vincent Munanyo completes the 26 man list.

Players on standby are Precious Igali, Jacob Ryan, James Ewruje and Olufemi Gbadebo.

The Technical Director, of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), John Curtis, in a press statement made available to newsmen, on Monday, explained that the top twenty players in the NSF ranking along with six wild cards that include female players are part of the list.

At the end of the three-day Qualifiers, the best ten players will be selected to represent Team Nigeria at the World Championship, in America from the 22nd-26th of July this year.

We understand that the NSF holds the right for the final selection of Team Nigeria to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA as well as any other international Championships.

The Technical Director, stated that the trials will last for three days and it’s ten games per day and each player has twenty five minutes per game.

All invited players for the Qualifiers must have an international passport valid till the 30th of March 2024 and must submit the a squeaky clean, clear and legible photocopy of the data page of their passport to the NSF on or before the 30th of January.

Invited players are expected to arrive Frank N. Luxury Hotel, 18 Lawrence Road, off Bowen Street, Sapele, Delta State, for the Qualifiers on the 25th of this month, while the trials begins the next day by 8am. The Qualifiers will carry ranking points as it’s an NSF rated event.

The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), said that the very best at the end of the grueling trials will be selected based on an indebt summary, analysis, player by player projection, word power and dexterity as well as game strength, coupled with their experience on the board.

“We are going to the World Championship with our top ten who are the best hands in the game. We are not just going to Las Vegas for the individual title, we are also heading there to defend our team title too.” The Hydro-Engineer said.

We also gathered that inclusion of any female player in the final team selection will not be coloured by their gender, but the female player or players must merit it.

Current African Champion, Enoch Tochukwu Nwali, came fifth at the last World Championship in Goa, India in 2019.

In 2015, Delta State born, current national number one and recently crowded King of the Jungle, Wellington Jighere, became the first African player to win the World Championship crown. He did that in Australia.