PANASA President’s Cup: Nigerians dominate the strong cast after 18 games

George Ezinore has moved to the top of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) President’s Cup chart after Day 2 were concluded on Tuesday at the tastefully decorated Rose Hall of the Orchid Hotel Ikota-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
The Edo state born wordsmith who was on table 2 profited from the slip up by his compatriot and two-time former African champion, Dennis Ikekeregor, to close the Day with 15 wins, 3 defeats and a cumulative of 1010 points.
Ikekeregor lost his last two games to former African champion Peter Moses 436-438 and Anthony Odoks 363 – 446 respectively to record a total score of 14 wins, 4 defeats and cumulative points of 1120.
Day One champion Stanley Njoroge of Kenya who had a perfect score of 7 wins in 7 games, suffered a massive setback as he lost his first three games on resumption of hostilities.
After the conclusion of the day’s session, players took a trip to Moist Beach, Oniru for some entertainment.
The tournament resumed on Saturday with 7 rounds on the card after which the semi-finalists will emerge.
Chukwudi Ehibudu fondly called ‘One Arm Bandit’s told journalists that the field at the maiden edition of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) President’s Cup is the strongest in recent years.
“The games are tough and the desire to win and make a visible and meaning outing us also there.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ojih David and Ejenakevbe Ese occupy the first spot on the current standings of the U-19 and the U-15 categories after the conclusion of the day 2 of the ongoing PANASA Winifred Awosika Foundation African Youth Scrabble Championship, AYSC going on at the Chrisland School Lekki, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Ojih began the game for the second day from round 4, which saw Ogbonna Michael at the top position and Lateef Musa in the second position.
But the Day 2 witnessed a series of upset as Lateef displaced Ogbonna from the top position after accumulating 441 points to win his opponent, who got 389 points with 52 score spread in round 5.
Rattled by his defeat, Micheal rose from the dust after he won Idris David 423-397 in round 6, Ojih 400-389 in round 7, Ola Blessing 398-382 in round 8, and Adeleke in round 9 408-404.
However, he could not maintain the winning streak after he lost in three straight sets to submit the top position to Ojih.
His ascension to the top position after the end of round 12 was however checked when he met Joy Ola, who won with a 50 score spread finishing 397-347 to put his record at 10 wins two defeats.
In the U-15, Nigeria’s Ejenakevbe Ese topped the current standing after 9 rounds witnessed in the day two of the ongoing PANASA/ Winifred Awosika Foundation African Youth Scrabble Championship, AYSC in Lagos, Nigeria.
On the standing, Aliu Qudus occupies the second position while Imode Clinton sits on the third place on the log.