Two hundred and ninety (290) players have been accredited for participation at the 6th edition of the Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics Championship, scheduled for Uyo, Akwa Ibom State next week. The accredited players are for four different events-masters, intermediates, opens and veterans.
The approved list of the accredited players released by the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) showed that the Opens have the highest accredited number of players of 124. It is followed by intermediates event with 90 players, while masters and veterans categories have 39 and 37 accredited players respectively.
Current world champion, Nigel Richard will play in the masters’ event against defending champion, Sammy Okosagah and former African champion, Dennis Ikekeregor. Other Nigerian players to compete in the masters’ category for $ 15,000.00 prize money on offer are Eta Karo, Balogun Rasheed, Dennis, Moses Peter, Saheed Tayo and Esan Oladokun.
The international championship being sponsored by Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio annually has helped enhance the development of scrabble in the country with Nigerian players competing with their counterparts from other countries in the four categories annually. US based Sammy Okosagah won the last edition of the championship taking home $10,000 first prize money. He won the 24 game masters division with one round to spare, finishing on 17 wins +1394 to beat Saheed Tayo second and Esan Oladokun third position respectively.
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