NSF: Ogun, Delta and Edo dictating pace in scrabble women’s doubles

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

Ogun State pair of Bukunmi Afolayan and Adebisi Adekansi are the pacesetters in the women’s scrabble doubles after three rounds of games at the ongoing National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Delta 2022’.
Ogun defeated Bayelsa by a massive 523-267, that gave the Gateway amazons a plus 256 cumulative points. They followed that impressive performance with 427-384 victory over Chiamaka Gabriel led Lagos State.

The scrabble amazons from Ogun State who are eyeing the Chairman Ogun State Scrabble Association, Adekoyejo Adegbesan’s special reward package closed game three with another blow out 583-365 over Oyo State. That result means it’s three wins and a cumulative points of 517.
It’s the cumulative points that separate the three front runners, Ogun, Delta and Edo State.
Delta led by Africa’s numero uno Touye Mayuku made light walk of Bayelsa 469-354 before narrowly edging out Anambra 388-370. The ladies from the Land of Promise, Akwa Ibom could not survive the heat produced by their Edo State counterparts as the game in round three finished at 482-417in the laters favour.
Success Sule who missed out of the medal bracket in the singles event is spear heading Edo State quest in the doubles event. They’re on three straight wins over Akwa Ibom, Oyo and Lagos State with a cumulative of 98 points.
Bayelsa State is not far off the top three, they have two wins with a poor cumulative of minus 204.
Lagos, Rivers and Oyo have one each while Anambra and Akwa Ibom are still waiting for their first win in the women’s doubles.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Lagos, Anambra, Niger and Bayelsa registered their names in gold in the different singles events in scrabble.
Olatunde Oduwole representing Lagos took gold in the Masters event, Ajuluchukwu Okagbue smiled home with the Intermediate gold for Anambra while Simeon Oyediran took the Opens single on the colours of Niger State.
Coach of Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association, Akinfemisoye Ayomiposi described Oduwole’s gold medal as “most prestigious” in the competition, adding that he knew that his player would be a star to watch out for in the festival even before the start of the event.
“The aura was not there for me at the Edo 2021, but with a renewed determination and tenacity, I remained focus that the Delta 2022 would be a different ball game,” the gold medalist Olatunde Oduwole said.
He said the dynamism of scrabble game demands that every player should take his game serious right from the preparation level and this was what I did, and I promised myself that I would not let Lagos down this time around,” he added.
“I will be competing in the doubles event, so also in the team event. I guarantee gold medals in these events,” Oduwole concluded.
Lagos State Scrabble coach, Ayomiposi said his scrabble team, comprising of 9 male and 3 female players would compete in 12 events at the Delta 2022 National Sports Festival.
In a related development, against all expectations, Bayelsa State captured the female singles title through Malafakumo Akpos. She brushed aside a very strong field that includes, African Queen on the board Touye Mayuku, Joy Ola, Success Sule, Chiamaka Gabriel, Adebisi Adekansi, Onome Irozuru, Passfine Chinkere, Faizah Adeleke and Joanna Olatunji.
Akpos won 14 games with a plus 782 cumulative points to take the gold medal at the expense of Touye Mayuku. Mayuku finished ahead of Joy Ola because, she had a higher cumulative of 746 against Ola’s 686 points.
It should be noted that Mayuku won nine out of ten games on day 1 but managed to win just three games out of eight on the day that matters most.
Two of the pre Festival favourite Chiamaka Gabriel and Adebisi Adekansi finished outside the podium.
Speaking on the competition, Vice President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), who is also the Chairman Edo State Scrabble Association, Bright Idahosa, stated that he is pleased with the outing of his team so far in the festival.
Edo has a silver and a bronze medal. The silver was won by Choice Izebere in the Opens singles while Umokoro won bronze for Edo in the Intermediate event.
Idahosa believes that Edo State Scrabble team will return to Benin with more medals at the end of the Festival.
“Too many distractions and momentary switch off caused our poor showing in the singles events.” The is the view of the Head coach of Delta scrabble team Dennis Ikekeregor.
Ikekeregor explained that they will surely improve as the Festival marches on.
“Am looking forward to more medals in the doubles and team events.” The former African Champion stated.
Delta won only a silver in female singles and missed out of the top three in the Masters event as former World Champion Wellington Jighere came a close fourth, a win short of a bronze medal finish.
The same scenario played out for Daystar Atti in the Intermediate event, where he came fourth behind Umukoro Oghomaria, however Scrabble Team Delta, came a distance seventh in the Opens singles. Christopher Avre the Big Heart touch bearer lacked the big heart when it matters most.
Ogun State registered her name on the scrabble medals table with a silver in the Intermediate event, won by Babatunde Adeagbo. He lost the gold medal on cumulative points difference. The winner, Ajuluchukwu Okagbue of Anambra had 636, Babatunde Adeagbo had 506 and Umukoro Oghomaria had 335 cumulative.

Scrabble medal table:

Bayelsa 1 gold 1bronze
Lagos 1 gold
Anambra 1 gold
Niger 1 gold
Edo 1 silver 1 bronze
Delta 1 silver
Kebbi 1 silver
Ogun 1 silver
FCT 1 bronze
Plateau 1 bronze