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The eagerly anticipated inaugural editions of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) President’s Cup (PPC) and the African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC) begins this Thursday morning at the Orchid Hotel, Ikota-Lekki and the Chrisland School also in Lekki, Lagos State, South West, Nigeria.
Over 225 players from Africa and America are competing for honours at the twin events that will last for four days. Players from countries such as Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, The Gambia, Uganda, United States of America and host Nigeria will feature at the events.
The PANASA President’s Cup (PPC) is an elite one category event open to scrabble players across the globe while the African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC) is reserved for young players in Africa who are 19 years and under, with two categories to compete for, U-15 and U-19.
The governor of Turkana County Province of Kenya, Jeremiah Ekamais Lomorukai Napotikan who is the special guest of honour.
will declare both Championships open beginning with the President’s Cup by 8am and the African Youth Scrabble Championship by 10am all within the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
The governor on arrival paid a courtesy visit to the Oba Oniru of Iruland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II and he also visited a frontline Pan African educationist, Dr. Mrs. Winifred Awosika, the founder of the famous and prestigious Chrisland Schools.
32,000 dollars is the prize money pool for the President’s Cup and 9,000 dollars has been set aside as prize money for the African Youth Scrabble Championship. The AYSC have lots of spot prizes and gift items ranging from Laptops to tablets and smart phones for the participants.
On Saturday, after two scheduled rounds of games, the visiting young players will go on an excution to landmark locations in the city of Aquatic Splendor like National Museum, Lekki Conservation Park, Kalakuta Museum, Nike Arts Gallery and do some shopping too.
In a bid to encourage more female participation in the game of Scrabble, the Continental Governing Body of the game of words has ear marked special prizes for the best female at the end of the challenging and grueling competition the will last for four days with 25 rounds of games.
In addition to the individual prizes, the top team will smile home with 1000 dollars. A team at the President’s Cup is made up of at least three players from the same country and its limited to only the African countries at the championship.
The winner of the President’s Cup will get 5,000 dollars and the Gbenga Ojofeitimi trophy, SM Quartey trophy will be handed to the second prize winner and a cash prize of 2,500 dollars and 1,700 dollars and the Ojior Osikhena trophy goes to the third best player.
Nine rounds of games will be played on Day 1 of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) President’s Cup and the games starts 9am, each player has 25 minutes per round of game. It’s both PANASA and WESPA rated and their rules applies in this Championship. 2021 Collins Scrabble Words Dictionary is the reference material for the tournament.
Former African champion and winner of the Engineer Toke Aka National Jubilee Championship, Nsikak Etim is the President’s Cup number one seed, West Africa Scrabble champion and holder of the NSF Green Jacket Eta Karo is the second seed while Health Education student of the University of Lagos who is also the winner of third edition of Governor Douye Diri national championship, Enoch Nwali completes the top three.
The highest ranked foreign player in the 135 man strong field that include 8 ladies is Kenya’s Allan Oyende at number 8 and Gitonga Nderitu another Kenyan at 15th while Uganda’s Edgar Odongkara is at number 20.
Ogun State born coach and player Bukunmi Afolayan who is also into music is the highest ranked female participant at number 40.
Kenya with 13 players has the largest contingent outside the host nation, Nigeria. Uganda is in Lagos for the President’s Cup will 11 players, 10 are from Liberia and Ghana the next host of the event are in town with a 7 man strong team.
