By Mishael Emmanuel
Day 1 of the Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship which is the first event in the NSF National Scrabble Festival witnessed it’s fair share of surprises, upsets and exciting moments with Cross River’ Victor Ewarah, surprisingly leading the standings after 10 rounds of games at the Rolak Hotel and Suites, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria.
Ewarah, ranked 31st on the pre-tournament list secured the front seat with 8 wins, 2 losses and a plus 719 cumulative points.
James Ewruje, representing Lagos State was the closest man to Victor both with the same number of wins, but the tournament 7th seed recorded 10 cumulative points less the latter.
Africa Scrabble Champion, UNILAG student of Health Education and tournament 2nd seed Enock Nwali, trailed fellow his Lagos State compatriot with 7 wins a draw and 2 losses with +424 points.
Emmanuel Ekpo from Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Umujose of Delta State, John Aiyedun with Team Lagos, back-to-back African King Dennis Ikekeregor and Oyo State’ Adegbola Abiola complete the super quintet chasing pack, all with only 3 losses and 7 victories.
Cumulative point is the yard stick that separates the good, from the better, among the occupants of the 4th to 8th positions after a tight day of hostilities, with Emmanuel Ekpo on +300, Emmanuel Umujose with 47 less, 5th seed John Aiyedun with +214, and then from Delta State’ Dennis Ikekeregor comes the drop with the team captain and coach recording a slim +71 cumulative points and +48 for Adegbola Abiola.
Ryan Jacob, Akwa Ibom’ second representative in the leaders board and Oyo State’ Qamar Adebowale, fill the remaining spaces in the top 10, with both securing 6 and a half wins each from 10 games.
National Sports Festival gold medalist with the African Games swag Jimoh Abdulmumini, is the first man outside the smallest double digit, with 6 victories and plus 372 cumulative points.
In the youth category, Kwara State, seemed to be featuring a Youth Team for the biggest and most competitive competition in the Nigeria Scrabble circuit, the toughest and most challenging scrabble circuit on planet earth. Leading the charge is 15 year old Qudus Aliu.
He was the undisputable youth leader, retaining the top spot for 5 games and table 1 for 7 rounds. A PhD in bravery and fearlessness earned him the limelight and all mention throughout the day.
The Chairman of Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association and 2017 NSF Green Jacket holder, Dipo Akanbi, was the first receipient of defeat at the hand of the scrabble wizkid, Friday Inoyo from Rivers State was the next of five to receive defeat as the reward of their efforts against the young son of Aliu the Afonja Warrior.
Qudus’ next victim was Emmanuel Ekpo with Team Akwa Ibom and 16 cumulative points short of +200 was the scoreline, round 4 saw Qudus tear any resistant from FCT’s Daniel Achema.
Sunday Oshodi of Rivers State, was the first person to stop Abdulqudus Aliu right in his tracks, 436-397 was how it ended.
The next set of games gave Qudus – a Senior Secondary School student hoping to study English in the University, the chance to return to the top with a 466-362 win over then second placed, Peter Ebomah who bears the emblems of the Federal Capital Territory.
An extended stay on pole position, was what round 7 threw on his way, with a tight 445-433 win over 9th seed Jimoh Abdulmumini.
His round 7 lead, was his last on day 1, with the next three rounds not providing the right results to crown his relentless jamming and dexterity on the board.
John Aiyedun, continued where Oshodi left off and Jimoh Abdulmumini came back for retribution in round 10. Qamar Adegbola added salt before Jimoh Abdulmumini, peppered it up in the final round of Day 1.
Away from the wizard of the Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship, but not too far from him, the 13th to 20th positions housed to scrabblers on the same number of wins as Qudus, 6.
PANASA President Cup winner, Godwin Victor called the 13th spot his Monday night residence with +234 points securing his stay, the next spot was meant for West Africa Scrabble Champion, Oluwatimilehin Doko, Day 1 bus stop, and +230 cumulative points bought him a comfortable Day 2 ticket.
Cross Rivers’ Anthony Odok finished the day in 15th place on a plus 208, former World Champion and two time African King, Wellington Jighere, under the umbrella of the Defending champions, Delta State, carrying a plus 129 cumulative points, can call the 16th place his refueling station.
Bayelsa’ Ben Quickpen, Dipo Akanbi, Sunday Oshodi and Dokun Esan complete the top 20.
Lagos State are dictating the pace in the team event with 42 wins and a draw, two more than with Delta State in the second spot, Ogun State on 31 wins are third while Oyo State are on 28 victories.
The ‘Land of Promise’ Akwa Ibom are punching above their weight as two of the Ibomites are in the top ten position, Emmanuel Ekpo 4th, Ryan Jacob 9th, two others are with the top 50. Victor Owokere, one of the three Victors at the Festival in sitting on the 51th spot in the colours of Akwa Ibom.
They’re are on 23 wins just Kwara State. The FCT and Rivers are on 21 wins each.
The Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship is part of the Four in One NSF National Scrabble Festival – Gateway 2024, which is proudly and heavily supported by the Ogun State Government.