Ayedun wins NSF South-West open scrabble tourney

Grand Master John Ayedun, at the weekend, became the third player to win the South-West Scrabble Open Tournament when he defeated Abdulmumin Jimoh 477-390 in the final round of the championship in Akure, Ondo State.

Ayedun edged his closest rival, Cyril Umebiye, to the second position, while Abdulmumin Jimoh came third. As compensation for his efforts, Ayedun won a giant trophy and a cash prize of N600,000 at the end of the two-day tournament. Opening day leader, Emmanuel Umujose, fell from his advantage position to sixth despite opening the final day with a win. He lost his last three games.

The 2022 African champion, Enoch Nwali, new African king, Timilehin Doko, Umujose, and Ibukun Faloye all recorded 10 wins and five defeats each.
They were separated by varying cumulative points of +1138, +504, +326, and +27.

Speaking at the end of the competition, Ayedun said: “It was a highly competitive event. I actually never saw this victory coming with the presence of two African champions, the immediate past champion in Enoch Nwali, and the recently crowned holder, Timilehin Doko.

“Having them participate in this tournament shows it is really a competitive one. For me, emerging as the winner is not a small feat, and I give God Almighty the glory for the achievement.”

In other categories, Apiafi Isaac won the intermediate class, while Tsola Mabiaku picked the Best Open title. At the end of the competition, the South West Coordinator at the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Emmanuel Egbele, praised the Ondo State Scrabble Board, represented by Samuel Alagha, and Sunshine Scrabble Club Chairman, Prince Adeloye Adetomiwa, for hosting one of the best tournaments in the zone.

Egbele also commended the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the successful organisation of the event. He said: “The experience has always been a tough one, to be honest, because putting up resources for a tournament of this magnitude requires a lot of logistics, and a lot of preparations. Yes, we cannot rule out the challenges of the economic situation, even with the players having to travel from different locations across the country, but we have to look on the bright side and look for how to improve on the game, get more tournaments to help us prepare for international tournaments like the World Championship in Ghana next year.