114 top wordsmith to set Leonardo Hotel ablaze as MGI International Scrabble Classics gets under in Milton Keynes
Photo : Milton Keynes Mayor (m), declaring the tournament open
The 2024 MGI International Scrabble Classics United Kingdom is underway at the Leonardo Hotel in Milton Keynes with 114 players drawn from different countries around the globe in attendance.
Nigeria, the world’s leading scrabble nation on planet earth is heavily represented at the 3 day Classics which is a 25 rounds of games event.
The Nigerian contingent to the competition has in it’s fold the President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka who is also an executive member of the World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA).
Aka said on Friday that, “I’m just going to complete the numbers and have fun. The primary reason for attending is to show solidarity with MGI.”
The MGI International Scrabble Classics initiative is aimed at giving young and talented players across the continent the opportunity to rob shoulders with the big guns in the game.
A number of Nigerian players that includes the player’s representative of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) board, Segun Durojaiye were refused British visas on very watery and flimsy grounds.
Brett Smitheram former World Champion is tournament’s number one seed, Kabir Olaiya is seeded fifth while Opeyemi Oloro is at number 8 out of the 66 players in Division A.
Lukeman Owolabi, an Executive Member of World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA), explained that two world renowned scrabble commentators and analysts Austin Shin and Will Anderson, will be anchoring the live streaming and broadcast of the MGI International Scrabble Classics that has attracted players from Africa, Asia, America and Europe.
The three-day tournament will starts today (Saturday), the 4th of May and end on Monday, the 6th, 2024, it’s a 25 rounds of games competition, that is in three divisions.
9 rounds of games will be played today and the same number will be decided on Sunday, while 7 will be played on Monday, the final day of the International Classics, in each category.
Very experienced Tournament Director, James Burley will oversee the competition and will be assisted by Nigeria’s Khaleel Adedeji, fondly called Dynamite.
Over 11,000 pounds have been set aside as prize money for the three divisions, with the winner of Division A getting 2,000 pounds, in a prize pool of 5,500 pounds. The top prize in Division B is 1,000 pounds, while 7 other players in that division will share 2,100 pounds. 2,400 pounds is the total prize money for Division C.
We understand that there will be 15 spot prizes, 5 on each day of the grueling 25 rounds of games event, with lots of souvenirs to go with it.
Last night, members of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC), had a meeting and dinner with the President of World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA).
Ghana base security outfit, Ojeyz Security Management Company managed by Haruna Adamu and the famous fashion designer Frontpage Couture, are backing the MGI International Scrabble Classics.
