Team Nigeria Moves Closer To First Ever Podium Finish At World Youth Scrabble Championships

Barring any major last minute changes or poor runs, Team Nigeria at the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia will finish on the podium in the individual event.

Captain Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu, who recorded 7 wins in 8 games on the opening day on Friday, had another solid outing on Saturday with 8 wins from 9 games at the end of proceeding.

Aliu, is currently occupying the second spot on the table with 15 wins just like India’s Madhav Gopal Kamath but Aliu has a lower cumulative point of plus 1404 while the Indian is on 1933 cumulative points.

Sophia Ebube Ekeruche is four wins away from the two front runners. Ekeruche is on 11 wins and plus 618 points.

Prestige Archibong and Joy Nwabuzor have an equal number of wins -10 but Archibong has a higher cumulative of plus 971 while Nwabuzor is on 365 points.

TEAM NIGERIA STANDING:

2 . Abdulqudus Aliu 15 +1404
27. Sophia Ekeruche 11 +618
45. Prestige Archibong 10 +971
53. Joy Nwabuzor 10 +365

Kenya’s leading player is Tonyblayer Kimani with 9 victories and 142 points in the 81st spot, followed by 113th Ronny Kiogora on 8 wins from 26 games and a draw with a cumulative deficit of minus 113 points. Adrian Ngache with 8 wins and minus 67 is sitting on 133 spots out of the 218 participants.

TEAM KENYA STANDING:

91. Tonyblayer Kimani 9 +142
113 . Ronny Kiogora 8.5 -113
133. Adrian Ngache 8 -67
142. Stephanie Wambui 8 -522
151 . Steve Mburu 7.5 -284
169. Cyprian Muhia 7 -509
179 . Venessa Mwangi 6.5 -708
183 . Valerie Wanyara 6 +3
194 . Kimuyu Beverly Lilia 6 -829
199. Wambui Audrey 5.5 -963
201 . Janice Pendo 5 +25
204. Mitchelle Wairimu 5 -450
208 . Angel Mutana 5 -958

7 rounds of games will be played on the final day of competition.

In the team event, five countries, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and host Malaysia are fighting for the top three spots.

India is slightly ahead of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nigeria while Malaysia is doing catch-up.

THE TOP TEN AFTER DAY 2

(i) Madhav Gopal Kamath
(IN) 15 +1933

( ii) Abdulqudus Olawale A (NG) 15 +1404

(iii) Mohamed Inam Irshad (LK) 13 +846

( iv) Suyash Manchali (IN) 13 +815

( v) Aehzam Ahmed (PK) 12 +1422

( vi ) Adheesha Dissanayake (LK) 12 +1243

( vii) Affan Salman (PK) 12 +1181

( viii) Thulnith De Silva (LK) 12 +997

( ix) Ahmed Salman (PK) 12 +889

( x) Oscar Ivanovski (AU) 12 +735