5th Dynamite Opens Scrabble Tournament Gives Me Joy Says Khaleel Adedeji

By Tayo Ogunseye

Convener of the Dynamite Opens Scrabble Tournament (DOST) Khaleel Adedeji has expressed great satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the 5th edition which he said gave him joy.

The tournament was a convergence of over hundred participants in the scrabble and the Spelling Bee competitions held at the Agege Local Government Area Secretariat, Lagos over the weekend.

The arena was a well prepared battle-ground for the regular opens players and new entrants.

A well-attended event, it captured the attention of mind games enthusiast as beginners and students from primary, secondary and tertiary schools with top personalities light up the ambience with their presence.

Am elated Adedeji said, “It gives me joy, it gives me joy really. The idea is to make the 5th edition massive. We started with the first, then second, third, fourth and fifth step. I think it’s a great thing. What really made it great is that so many people yearned for it. We didn’t have Dynamite Opens last year. The last time we had it was in 2022 just because I had to focus on my personal growth. I thought about how to make the fifth one different. This Celebrity Double event came up after I spoke with one of my mentors who asked, “why can’t we have a Celebrity Double?’ I spoke with some of the celebrities and they agreed and we have them here.”

He emphasised that the importance of the Celebrity Double was not for fun only but to pass a message that teamwork and collaboration are very important in development.

Scrabble Celebrities including Femi Awowade who won the first national championship and an African title, Nigeria No. 1 Abdulmumin Jimoh, Lekki Scrabble Club President Samuel Anikoh, founder of Heritage Global Academy Luqmon Molumo, founder Zen Archery Club Emmanuel Adeleke and,the Chairman, Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association Kamal Oyedunle alongside past winners engaged one another in a double’s exhibition event of three rounds.

Celebrities also mentored the students on life lessons of hard work, preparations, strategic thinking and creativity.

In the Oral Spelling Bee, Lasisi Faizah of Heritage Global Academy and Osas Omorowa from Multigrace College emerged as joint winners in the Written Spelling Bee after an intense competition.

In the written category, Lasisi Faizah (Heritage Global) came first ahead of Ejimokun Oluwatise (Dosland College)and Àdio Moshood (Lagos State Model Senior College, Meiran) finished in the second and third position respectively.

Okedairo Tomisin, Ajetunmobi Joel and Alawode Emmanuel claimed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position in Male Secondary School Scrabble competition while

Lasaki Toluwanimi, Fatai Abidah and Usman Aminat would finish in the female category accordingly after 8 rounds.

In the main scrabble event it was a tough fight and a battle of the fittest mentally as Michael Ogbonna withstood all challenges to keep the title with a total point of 14 wins, 4 losses and +871.

Ogbonna fought against the proverbial ‘Day Champion Curse” despite a hot pursuit from Kingsley Enyi whose victory in the final round was not enough to overtake him as he picked the top prize worth 300,000 naira.

“I feel very good that I set a goal and was able to achieve it”, stated Michael. “I continued with my tactics of taking each game as it comes. The games I played were very tough! I’m dedicating this victory to God, my Mum and I will also like to thank Khaleel ‘Dynamite’ Adedeji for his support. I’m also dedicating this title to my late coach Wale Joachim as my first tournament win. The Dynamite Opens is tournament that gives room for players to grow into the Intermediate and Masters and I hope to win the world title in the future.

Enyi finished behind him in second place after he recorded 14 wins, 4 losses with +814 points while Benjamin Onuh scored 13; wins, 5 losses with +1327 points.

Adebisi Adekansi emerged as the Best Female Player, Adedayo Sadiq earned the Best Under-rated, Obinna Njikonye got the Best Non-rated category while

Awonusi Peter bagged the Best Student cash award.

State chairman Oyedunle commended all participants as he promised that the Association would do more in getting competitions for the players.

Adedeji further thanked the Agege Local Government Area Chairman Abdul -Ganiu Vinod Obasa and other sponsors for the collaboration and support.

“I want to appreciate the Chairman Abdul -Ganiu Vinod Obasa for accepting us and making the event a huge success. When we approached him for the council’s support for this event, he received us just like a father would accept his baby. We are glad for this support and we know that Agege is in deed proud to have it’s first competitive scrabble in recent time.

I also want to use this opportunity to commend all our sponsors and supporters for standing by us in delivering a tournament which many has described as world-class” he said.