August 26, (THEWILL) – Enoch Nwali of Ebonyi State has retained his crown in the masters category in the 4th edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble championship in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Nwali recorded 13 wins at the Chief Harold Dappa Biriye conference hall with a plus 1229 cumulative spread to win the trophy and the N750,000 star prize and the winner’s trophy.
Enoch Nwali became the first player to successfully defend the governor Douye Diri National Scrabble championship with the previous editions won by Oshevire Avwenagha of Delta State and Nsikak Etim of Akwa Ibom State.
Igali Precious of Bayelsa finish second with 12 wins and cumulative of +140 to smile home with a sum of #450.000, Delta State Okiemute Tega came out third with same wins and cumulative of +139 to receive N330.000 naira.
Esan Dokun of Kogi State dethroned Ojior Osikhena of Edo, in the veteran category with +1465 cumulative after 13 wins, Ojior Osikhena of Edo, came second on 13 wins with cumulative spread of +585.
Bayelsa State dominated the opens category with Nimibo Theophilus, emerging champions with 13 win amassing +893, Bright Uzu of Rivers came out second with cumulative spread of +788, Ene Ketebu finished third.
Enai Doubara of Bayelsa triumphed in the intermediate category with 13 wins cumulative of 894. Kareem Jamiu of Oyo State came second with cumulative of 1090.
Eddie Pereowei of the Federal Government College, Odi emerged the new champion in the secondary school category taking the place of Adeleke John, who won the previous edition.
Akpos Malafakumo was crowned champion in the female category.
Declaring the championship closed, Governor Douye Diri reiterated his administration’s commitment in using sports as a vehicle to combat crime and other social vices.
The governor, who was represented by the Director of Sports Sir Braveman Wodi, remarked that there is a deliberate effort by his administration to make Bayelsa the hub of sports in the nation, saying that the state was opened in hosting more national competition.
According to him, one of the focal area of his administration is youth engagement and is the only way to positively engage the youths through investing in sports development.
He assured the participants of a befitting championship in the next edition, saying that the championship would continue to witness a significant improvement as it progresses.
President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Chief Olubake Aka, called for scrabble to be included in the curriculum of the various schools in the State describing Bayelsa as a big scrabble state in the nation.
He congratulated the governor, on his triumph at the supreme court, stressing that the federation was happy to receive to news.
Chief Aka announced that the nation’s scrabble players would be representing the country in Kigali, Rwanda in the Africa Scrabble championship in October this year.
Earlier in an address of welcome, chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said over 250 participants registered in this year’s edition at all the categories
He noted that special thing about this year’s competition was the improved prize money from 500,000 to 750,000 naira for the master category and other categories, stating that he is pleased with selection of Eddie Pereowei and August Benharry into the national team.
The scrabble boss called for the inclusion of scrabble into the Olympic which according to him is the surest way for Nigeria to record gold in the Olympics.
The winner of the masters category Enoch Nwali in an interview, thanked the almighty God for the victory, attributing the secret behind his victory to consistency.
The university of Lagos graduate explained that he won the championship from the word “hayride” which is derived from the scrabble dictionary.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
