Sparks are set to fly as 120 players hit Lagos for the 5.5 million naira total prize-money set to be won at the 2025 Lekki Scrabble Classics this weekend.
Defending champion Charles Tachie-Menson of Ghana will aim to navigate through the word firepower of other top contenders in the premier division for another showpiece on the Peninsula.
The Ghanaian who shocked all especially the famed Nigerian scrabble community and carted away the one million naira top prize-money will again, hope to repeat the feat especially as his country host the World English Language Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) in November.
Tournament top ranked star and BIST title holder Abdulmumin Jimoh will be leading other Nigeria players like Samuel Adebola, John Aiyedun (GM), old warhorse Chinedu Thorpe, EEAST champion Emmanuel Umujose and former African Youth champion David Ojih to reclaim their lost opportunities at the annual championship.
Other top players aiming to snatch the revered title also included former African champion Moses Peter(CC), Scrabble In The Jungle King Tega Okiemute and Adeyemi Adeosun (GM).
Africa’s World Youth best Aliu Abdulqudus, Sophia Ekeruche, Prestige Archibong and Joy Nwabuzor are also in with some shouts in the lineup.
Players from Ghana, Uganda, United States, Ireland and United Kingdom will also be participating at the event.
Participants with ratings from 1300 to 2000 will compete in the Premier class while those with ratings from 000-1299 will chase for success in the Championship division.
Lekki Scrabble Club President Samuel Anikoh while featuring on a TV Show on afrosport In Focus revealed that a total cash prize-money of 5.5 million naira has been placed on the table for the 2-day event.
“I think Lekki Scrabble Club has been one of the forerunners in the promotion of scrabble. We do have other organisations like MGI, PANASA who are trying to bring the game into Nigeria’s consciousness.”
“The winner of the of the this edition will be going home with one million naira. Let me quickly add that we have a total sum of 5.5 million naira going out as prizes. At Lekki Scrabble Classics like we usually say, everyone is a winner.”
Meanwhile, incoming Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) Technical Director Khaleel Adedeji who was elected recently into the board will be adjudicator for the LSC2025.
The tournament will hold at the Peninsula Hotel as players battle across 18 games.
Credit: Tayo Ogunseye
