A 500-level undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Doko Oluwatimilehin, emerged as the winner of the second edition of the West African Scrabble Championship (WASC) in Lagos. Doko defeated the all-star team, winning 19 rounds and losing nine, with a cumulative spread of +1163 points.
The pharmacy student missed the African Scrabble Championship in Lusaka, Zambia, and the last World Scrabble Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, in July. He led the log after Day 1 with 9 wins, finishing ahead of George Ezinore. However, Ezinore secured a better cumulative of plus 1243 points at the end of Day 2.
On the final day, Doko defeated Enoch Nwali, the current African Scrabble Champion, and then faced George Ezinore in the King of the Hill, which Ezinore won. Doko later dispatched Nsikak Etim and Tega Okiemute to reach the final. In the final, Doko defeated Tega Okiemute 508-418 to win the $2000 cash prize.
Moses Peter secured the second position, beating George Ezinore 507-418 and amassing 18 wins, winning $1000. Nigeria dominated the top positions, with Okiemute Tega, Karo Eta, Nwali Enoch, Ezinore George, Odoh Anthony, Etim Nsitak, and Victor Godwin occupying the third to ninth positions.
In the team event, Nigeria claimed the first position, winning a $1500 cash prize. The Gambia and Ghana secured the second and third positions, receiving $1000 and $500, respectively.
Doko expressed his joy, acknowledging the challenge of balancing academics and sports. The President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Toke Aka, attributed the success of young players like Enoch Nwali and Doko Oluwatimilehin to the developmental plans of the federation.
The Sports Minister, Senator John Enoh, represented by the ministry’s Lagos state Liaison Officer, Ikhana Mbora, appreciated the effort of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation for hosting the West African Championship.
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