By Tayo Ogunseye
The roomy atmosphere of the Esses Hall was a contrast to the tight space at the top of the table as top rated player Abdulmumin Jimoh leads the race with an advantage of a superior cumulative points as Day One of the 2026 South -West Closed Scrabble Tournament ends with intriguing excitement.
Jimoh, the most in-form player in the Nigerian scrabble circuit had already farmed a space, good enough to keep him apart from the rest after recording a total of 8 wins and 2 defeats with a cumulative of +726 despite losing his final game of the day to Abiola Adegbola 502- 456.
” I just played my last game against Abiola, it was a beautiful game but I lost.
I will just keep my head up and play the remaining games.”
“I will just keep on playing the games as it comes. We have five games to go. The first two games are very important. If I pick my first two games, I should be able to win the tournament or come second or third.”
Snapping at his heels is second-placed Bukunmi Afolayan who garnered the same wins and defeat but with an inferior cumulative points of +585.
Ten players, led by third-placed Abiola Adegbola drew up a mirror result of 7-3s but with different levels of cumulative points including early leader Hakeem Olaribigbe who won his first seven games but also fell into this bracket.
Similar situation also played out from the 13th to 19th position as players; including the defending champion John Aiyedun, fought for strong placements in an unforgiving field.
Games resume on Easter Sunday when one of the 50 players will rise to the top in the ancient city of Ile Ife.
