Tag: World Youth Scrabble Championships

 Victorious members of Team Nigeria to the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are due in Abuja  today.

The team of four players and one official is expected to touch down in the nation’s capital by 12.05pm aboard Ethiopian Airlines.

Team Nigeria through Sophia Ebube Ekeruche, won the Best Female crown at the World Youth Scrabble Championships, the first time a wordsmith from the continent is achieving such a feat.

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Only last month, Sophia Ebube Ekeruche, made history by winning the U-15 category at the African Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya, the first female to do so and did that without dropping a game.

Captain of Team Nigeria, Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu, narrowly missed the first position in the World to Madhav Gopal Kamath of India. Aehzam Ahmed of Pakistan came third.

Shortly after this historic outing by Team Nigeria, the President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Olobatoke Aka, said: “Nigeria scrabble has come of age, we have come to prove again that it’s not only in the adult scrabble that we are good, we have youth coming from behind and winning is another bold statement.”

Aka explained that, after conquering Africa in the U-15 and U-19 categories, Nigeria has shown to the world that they are not just African giants but also the world’s best.

 “We only missed the top prize by whiskers. I’m elated with this excellent result in Malaysia and we will begin preparing for the next World Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya next year very early and I’m confident we shall win it,” the NSF President said.

Barring any major last minute upsets, Team Nigeria  youngsters at the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia will finish on the podium in the individual event.

Captain Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu, who recorded 7 wins in 8 games on the opening day on Friday, had another solid outing on Saturday with 8 wins from 9 games at the end of proceeding.

Aliu, is currently occupying the second spot on the table with 15 wins just like India’s Madhav Gopal Kamath but Aliu has a lower cumulative point of plus 1404 while the Indian is on 1933 cumulative points.

Also, Nigeria’s Sophia Ebube Ekeruche is four wins away from the two front runners. Ekeruche is on 11 wins and plus 618 points while Prestige Archibong and Joy Nwabuzor have an equal number of wins -10.But Archibong has a higher cumulative of plus 971 while Nwabuzor is on 365 points.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s leading player is Tonyblayer Kimani with 9 victories and 142 points in the 81st spot, followed by 113^th Ronny Kiogora on 8 wins from 26 games and a draw with a cumulative deficit of minus 113 points. Adrian Ngache with 8  wins and minus 67 is sitting on 133 spots out of the 218 participants.

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In the team event, five countries including Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and host Malaysia are fighting for the top three spots. India is slightly ahead of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nigeria while Malaysia is doing catch-up.

Team Nigeria Standing:

2: Abdulqudus Aliu 15 +1404  

27: Sophia Ekeruche  11 +618  

45: Prestige Archibong  10 +971  

53: Joy Nwabuzor  10 +365  

The Top Ten After Day 2:

★  Madhav Gopal Kamath (IN) 15 +1933  

★  Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu (NG) 15 +1404  

★ Mohamed Inam Irshad (LK) 13 +846  

★ Suyash Manchali (IN) 13 +815  

★ Aehzam Ahmed (PK) 12 +1422

★ Adheesha Dissanayake (LK) 12 +1243  

★ Affan Salman (PK) 12 +1181  

★ Thulnith De Silva (LK) 12 +997  

★ Ahmed Salman (PK) 12 +889  

★ Oscar Ivanovski (AU) 12 +735  

Members of Team Nigeria at the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, started their quest for honours on an impressive note on Day 1 of the competition.

Captain Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu is the highest-ranked member of Team Nigeria at the end of play on Day 1 with 7 wins from 8 games and a fine cumulative points of plus 784 at number 7 on the table of 218 players.

Aliu, the teenager who is hoping to study English Literature in the University, completed his sensational start in Kuala Lumpur with a five-point margin win, 412–407 over Pakistan’s  Manaal Asher.

Africa U-19 champion, Prestige Archibong, and Joy Nwabuzor are on 6 wins each. Archibong has 808 points, and Nwabuzor’s cumulative points is 367.

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Joy Nwabuzor had a poor start in the championship, dropping her first two games, but after those opening defeats, Joy Eberechukwu Nwabuzor started radiating with joy and confidence and in the process picked up six wins and plus 367 points.

The golden girl from the City of Aquatic Splendor and current Africa U-15 queen, Sophia Ebube Ekeruche, is blowing hot in the golden peninsula, as Malaysia is fondly called, with only two defeats from eight games and 619 cumulative points.

Ekeruche, who went unbeaten at the African Youth Scrabble Championship’s defeated Shanzay Fazil of Pakistan 408–366 in a game; she is on 5 wins and a draw.

Oscar Ivanovski of Australia, on eight wins and plus 1015 points, and India’s Suyash Manchal,i with eight and 600  points, are yet to feel the pain of defeat in the Championship.

Team Nigeria is also holding the right end of the rack, titles, and board in the team event. India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan are the other countries fighting for a place on the team podium with Nigeria.