Top Scrabble Stars Align As 5th EEAST ‘Quinta Essentia’ Holds This Weekend

GM John Ayedun at  the 2024 EEAST edition

By Tayo Ogunseye

Top scrabble stars in Nigeria have confirmed their participation in the 5th edition of the Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble Tournament (EEAST) tagged the ‘Quinta Essentia’ scheduled to light-up in Lagos this weekend.

The top-class championship which is revered for it’s panache in organised scrabble has farmed in A-listers in the mind game for a thrilling two days of scrabble fiesta.

Grand Master John Ayedun who conquered the South-West and also boasts of a top-finish at the delayed 2023 African Games side-event joined the impressive list of contenders who have signed up for the showdown.

Also stepping into the magnificent playing Eko Hotel arena is ‘Word warrior’ Abdulmumeen Jimoh.

Jimoh, who in June cliched the Bubbles International Scrabble Tournament (BIST) without dropping a single game and has been in devastating form, is set to test his expanding profile at the EEAST.

Increasing the temperature for contention in this year’s championship is WGPO Scrabble Word Cup Champion (B-Div) Jack Mpaka.

The 2020 Israeli Scrabble Champion, is one of the high profile Jammers who is ready to stake his claim on a field full of ambitious battlers eager to expand their frontiers.

Ever calculative Tega Okiemute has also thrown his hat into the ring for the tournament where stakes are high.

The Delta-state born, who was crowned King of famed ‘The Scrabble In Jungle’ in December will again dip his hand into his pouch for his signature rapid-fire move for bingos on the board.

Ever-smiling but deadly-with-words Ben Quickpen brings in a fresh challenge to an already filled field full of board strategists.

Quickpen retains a master stroke capable of turning a losing position into a pleasant surprise.

Samuel Adebola, champion of the inaugural BSP Scrabble tournament has also been confirmed by the organisers as one of the top players to watch out for.

Also on the card in the Elite level is David Ojih, the current African Youth Champion who has also secured his slot, adding to rich-list of contenders for the coveted EEAST title.

Christopher Monday, winner of the Lite category winner now renamed the Challenger Division has also landed for a defense of his title which he won last year.

The championship is expected to be viewed and followed by a global audience from the first drop of the tile on the board this Saturday.

Over five million naira in prize-money will be on the table at the prestigious tournament holding at Eko Hotel and Suites this weekend.