More heavyweights wordsmith have registered for the maiden edition of Engineer Toke Aka National Jubilee Scrabble Championship holding in the nation’s capital Abuja on Saturday.
The latest big wig to register for the 12 rounds of games event is three times African Scrabble Championship bronze medal winner and multiple National Sports Festival medalist Prince Osahon Omosefe from Edo State.
Prince Osahon Omosefe who is a strong member of Team Nigeria to the forthcoming World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA has enjoyed a remarkable run in his semi professional scrabble career that span over two decades.
Another player that is very lethal on the board like Omosefe who has entered for the Jubilee Championship is 2022 National Scrabble Festival gold medalist, Jimoh Abdulmumin as well as Ben Quickpen another National Sports Festival medalist.
Ben Quickpen is a player for the big occasion and the Engineer Toke Aka National Jubilee Scrabble Championship is one such competition the Bayelsa man will love to throw some big and familiar faces under the board.
At the star studded cast of Lati B Bash Scrabble Retreat in Warri, Delta State, Ben Quickpen shoved aside Team Nigeria’s captain and the winner of the maiden edition of Bayelsa National Open, Oshivere Avwenegha, the West African Champion, Oghenekaro Paul Eta and Emmanuel Umujose to return to Yenagoa with the top honour.
Other household names that could not stop Quickpen in Warri who are likely to be in Abuja for the Jubilee National Championship include, Noble Onoshevwe, Larry Etuwa, Anthony Odok, Peres Zuofa, Oghovere Evuarherhe, Victor Godwin, Onota Ojiru, Peremor Ekpesegba, Shedrack Nwakaego and Oghenekaro Onakpagbe.
Emmanuel Ofidi, Umukoro Oghomaria and Clement Ologungbiri have also dipped their hands into the tiles bag for the grueling challenge ahead.
Current national number one player and former African Champion, Nsikak Etim was the first super star to indicate his readiness to light up the main hall of the Hotel De Bentley, venue of the Jubilee Championship with his dexterity, board management and tactical play in Abuja.
Double National Sports Festival gold medalist, the Champion of Champions and winner of the first edition of the IGP National Open Championship, Olatunde Oduwole is already in Abuja ahead of Engineer Toke Aka Jubilee Retreat and Jubilee National Championship.
Oduwole, a former NSF National Green Jacket holder is using the Jubilee Retreat at the Zalika Garden and the Jubilee National Championship to prepare for the Bayelsa National Open and the World Championship all in July.
About N2 million has been set aside as prize money for the Jubilee Championships with the winner of the Masters category getting a quarter of the prize money.
The Intermediate, the Veterans and the Retreat winners will also be going home with fat cheques too.