Scrabble Players Gear Up For N20m Prize At 6th Gov Diri Classic
Top scrabble players across Nigeria and the West African sub-region are warming up for the sixth edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic.
The World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) and Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA)-sanctioned tournament, which is the biggest in the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) calendar, is scheduled for August 1 and 2, 2026 in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The first day of the event will hold at the Matho Crystal Hotel, Imiringi Road, Yenagoa while the final games and closing ceremonies will take place at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, who is the Special Guest of Honour, is expected to grace the ceremony alongside members of the state executive council.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association (BYSA), Mr. Daniel Alabrah, disclosed in a statement that an impressed Governor Diri graciously increased the prize money to about N20 million for the five categories after the successful hosting of the fifth edition last year.
The star prize for the winner of the Master’s category has also been raised to N2 million from N1 million in 2025.
Alabrah said the governor’s sustained sponsorship of the tournament in the past five years has expanded awareness about the board game as well as boosted interest among youths in the state and across Nigeria.
The BYSA chairman praised Governor Diri for supporting and encouraging other sports apart from football, wrestling, swimming or boxing that the state had a strong comparative advantage.
The NSF President, Engr. Bright Idahosa, equally commended the Bayelsa helmsman for being a strong pillar of the federation.
Idahosa described the Governor Diri Classic as the tournament that all the top Nigerian scrabble players in the country and in the diaspora look forward to every year.
“As a federation, we appreciate His Excellency Governor Douye Diri for hosting this tournament annually. It is the biggest championship in our calendar and every top player in our country wants to be a part of it.
“Besides, another attraction is the peace of Bayelsa and the hospitality of the people. For many of us, Bayelsa has become a second home,” Idahosa stated.
No fewer than 300 scrabble players are expected to participate in this edition.
