Moses Peter wins Ibadan Opens 2007
Scrabble first national tournament in 2007 took place in Ibadan, over the weekend with some pump and pageantry. One hundred and two (102) players from over ten (10) states took part in the two – day event at the main hall of NUT Guests House, Samonda. Moses Peter(Ogun), a gold medalist from the last National Sports Festival edged out Jighere Wellington (Delta) for the first position in the masters category.
Peter won seven games out of nine and scored a cumulative of +188. Jighere and three other players, Saidu Ayorinde(Ogun), Esan Oladokun(Ondo) and Andrew Umogbai(Lagos) were tied on six wins but Jighere finished 2nd by virtue of a better cumulative, ahead of Ayorinde who was third.
The intermediate category was decided at the penultimate stage. Dr Adebola Samuel (Ondo) won his first seven (7) games and had the last to spare. A last gasp draw against defending champion Kingha Venayori confirmed his first triumph in competitive Scrabble and a cumulative of +543. Ganiyu Ajimati ( Ondo) and Ogboyomi Friday (FCT) placed 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Bode Delon’s (FCT) victory in the opens category was most emphatic as he won all his seven games and recorded a remarkable cumulative of +521. His good showing catapulted him to the masters category for future testier battle against the big boys.
Host, Oyo state had Dokun Okunmuyide to thank for all money spent. He finished first runner – up to Bode leaving the second runner – up spot for Bamidele Jonathan (Ondo).
At the end of the tourney, President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Chief (Engr.)Toke Aka thanked the sponsors and confirmed that preparations for the World Scrabble Championship, in India have begun