Tourneys – NigerianScrabble.com

Nigerian Scrabblers Shine in UK!

Top Nigerian scrabble players based abroad proved their mettle at major tournaments in the UK. The BMSC Scrabble Championships was recently held at Yarnfiled Training Centre, Stone, Staffordshire. 5 Nigerian master scrabble players were rated in the Masters category known as the A Division. 4 eventually competed for honours with 2 finishing at the top 10 in a field of 65. Below is a list of Nigerian players at the tournament and their final placings in italics

1. Biyi Oyadiran 11th
2. Wale Fashina (did not play)
3. Adekoyejo Adegbesan 25th
4. Femi Awowade 5th
5. Fidelis Olotu 8th

The A division field also included some of the top UK players including players of the UK team to the upcoming 2005 World Scrabble Championships.

Harshan Lamabadusuriya, (WSC participant representing the United Kingdom in November) eventually emerged champion. He beat Andrew Perry to win the coveted trophy and handsome cash reward of £250.

How Nigerian players fared- a summary

Fidelis Bruce Olotu beat UK’s best female player Helen Gipson (who was highest rated at 201 along with Harshan in the pre-tourney A Division list) to cement an 8th final placing. Mr Biyi Oyadiran convincingly beat Pete Finlay in their final game to finish 11th.

Interestingly Mr Koyejo Adegbesan who was 5th going to the final day of the tournament lost all 4 final games to finish a distant 25th! Nigerian GrandMaster Mr Femi Awowade was the highest placed Nigerian with a 5th placed finish. Fidelis Olotu won a ratings cash prize as the best performer on the ratings ladder and Femi Awowade won a plaque and cash gift for placing 5th.

PS: This report is based on (and courtesy of) Mr Koyejo Adegbesan’s posts and reports of the tournament on the Scanplayers and ScrabblePalsNigeria mailing list.