Nigeria Reclaims World Scrabble Glory

Nigeria have reclaimed the team title at the WESPAC World Scrabble Championship in Goa, India.

A team of eleven Scrabble players captained by the African Champion Moses Peter achieved the feat, edging out Malaysia with a mean total 22.36.

Nigeria won 214 games, losing 142 over the 3-day event.

Reflecting on the victory, National Coach Tony Ikolo attributed victory to hard work and serious preparation by the team: “For the last few months we had been preparing for the Indian tournament. My players were remarkable sacrificing so much to ensure that we remain the world’s best.”

Meanwhile, Nigel Richards of New Zealand – the greatest Scrabble player of all time – won the singles title to become the world champion again beating Jesse Day of the United States 4-3 in the final match up.

Richards – a multiple world champion in both English and French lexicons – is also the holder of another Scrabble “major”, the coveted King’s Cup that was held in Bangkok, Thailand in July.

He is now the undisputed world champion having taken the two recognised world title events – the MSA World Scrabble Championship in England last year and now the World English Scrabble Players’ Association title.

Jesse Day had led 3-2 in the best of seven final but Richards won the last two games to take the title.

Nigel sealed the win in Goa with a “nine-timer” AVOIDERS that netted him 167 points and an unassailable lead.

Nigeria’s best performer came from 23-year-old Enoch Nwali who finished 5th overall. The other player in the top ten was Ben Quickpen.