MGI Inter Classics: Chiamaka Gabriel wins first major International Scrabble event
..As Edward Martin is crowned champion of Division A
Photo 1: Winner of the maiden edition of MGI International Scrabble Classics UK, Edward Martin
Photo 2: Chiamaka Gabriel, winner of the Division C event of the MGI International Scrabble Classics UK
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Gabriel has won the Division C diadem of the prestigious 2024 MGI International Scrabble Classics – UK concluded Monday, at the Leonardo Hotel in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
The affable Chiamaka Gabriel dropped just two games to over power the 20 man field with 23 wins and a massive cumulative points of plus 2787.
The victory is the first major triumph for the former Airpop Falcons Scrabble Club player on the big stage.
It was a near perfect outing for the passionate scrabble amazon at the event attended by 114 players in three categories.
Tom Wilson came a distant second with 18 wins and a plus 1515 cumulative points ahead of Betty Kyeremateng who recorded 16 wins same as Jake Haidar but Kyeremateng had 579 more cumulative points than Haidar.
Heather Laird, Breda O’Brien, Caroline Foy, Mary Doyle, Jennifer Ikekeregor and Curtis Irubor completes the top ten in Division C.
Ghana’s Haruna Adamu narrowly missed the top ten bracket due to a huge cumulative points deficiency. Adamu and Irubor shared the same number of wins, 13 from 25 games.
As predicted, 14th seed Edward Martin of Sweden won the keenly contested Division A event of the MGI International Scrabble Classics ; he garnered 18 wins and a plus 1643 cumulative points.
Harshan Lamabadusuriya who was second at the last World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA), Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in 2023 came second again with a healthy cumulative points of plus 1109 from 17 victories the same as Lewis Mackay, Joshua Sokol, Phil Robertshaw and tournament top seed Brett Smitheram.
At number 7, Kevin McMahon the second seeded player also secured 17 wins same as Mackay who finished third due to a higher cumulative points than Sokol, Robertshaw and Smitheram.
Two Americans, Rasheed Balogun and Samson Okosagah with Nigerian roots came 8th and 10th in the ferocious 66 man cast that graced the tournament that has the support of Ghana based Security firm, Ojeyz Security Management Company managed by Haruna Adamu and Frontpage Couture a leading fashion house in Africa.
Nigerians at the International Scrabble Classics UK, Division A:
13. Noble Onoshevwe – 13 wins +504
15. Femi Awowade – 14 wins +571
20. Oluwaseun Oyeleke -14 wins +213
22. Olobatoke Aka – 14 wins -301
24. Olaiya Kabir -13 wins +698
27. Opeyemi Oloro -13 wins +412
29. Nsikan Iyanam -13 wins -51
34. Samuel Anikoh -12 wins +293
40. Jack Mpakaboari -12 wins -671
44. John Curtis -11 wins +24
51. Wale Ilore -11 wins -649
57. Collins Okafor – 10 wins -875
58. Tolani Ayo Awojobi -10 wins-1363
60. Fedelis Olotu -9½ wins -274
The Division B title went to Marion Keatings with 18 wins and a plus 985 cumulative points, Noel Livermore and Sunbul Siddiqui had 17 wins a piece but Livermore’s cumulative points of plus 955 was better than Siddiqui who had plus 368 points to place third.
The Nigerian contingent in the Division B category had a better showing than those in the Division A event.
Seven Nigerians were in the top 15 spot in the Division.
This is how they fared:
7. Ayotunde Adeyeri -14 wins +737
9. Febisola Olanipekun -14 wins +320
10. Abiodun Adeyemi -14 wins +318
11. Yusuf Simpa -13 wins +586
12. Alex Gboye Balogun -13wins+468
13. Charles Uzamere -13 wins +285
15. Ifedayo Obisesan -13 wins +144
23. Gbolahan Ogunsola -11wins+4
Over 11,000 pounds was doled out as prize money for the three divisions, with the winner of Division A getting 2,000 pounds, in a prize pool of 5,500 pounds. The top prize in Division B is 1,000 pounds, while 7 other players in that division shared 2,100 pounds. 2,400 pounds is the total prize money for Division C.
The MGI International Scrabble Classics initiative is aimed at giving young and talented players across the continent the opportunity to rob shoulders with the big guns in the game.
The Mayor of Milton Keynes, Mick Legg, declared the highly successful three day tournament open.
