₦airaland Forum

The Battle is on.
Regret to say that Ebola prevented the contingent of international players billed for the game stayed away, finally.


THURSDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

The 8th GAISC is finally here. A lot of foreign players are missing this year as a result of the Ebola crisis affecting some countries in West Africa. Perhaps if the clean bill of health pronounced by the health ministry came a few days earlier more players would have made it. That is not to say by any means that the turnout is poor, as it is in fact already one of the most attended scrabble tourneys in the world with over 440 players registered and verified to scramble for the biggest prize money in the world!

Amongst the international players looking to cart away the masters prize money are world champion, Nigel Richards, and last year’s winner – Sammy Okosagah. There is also a strong contingent from Kenya and Ghana.

There are five categories this year – Masters, Intermediate, Opens, Veterans, and Women. The new category for women this year is advised by the remarkable number of female entrants – 54 players! This has not stopped some female players from playing in any of the other categories – naturally the Tuoyo Mayukus and Cecilia Rutos are ready to compete with the masters.

I have the privilege of running the commentaries for the third successive year and I cannot wait to start…

from the source....not my words

THERE IS NOW A FEMALE CATEGORY AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP:

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigel-arrives-uyo-for-akpabio-scrabble-classics/189883/

orld scrabble champion, Nigel Richards, came to Uyo last year with fanfare, but at the end of the Godswill Akpabio Scrabble Classics, he left humbled. He could only place 5th in the competition that is offering the highest prize money in world scrabble.


This, perhaps, explains his return this year to assert his superiority as the world’s greatest scrabble player ever.
New Zealander by birth, but now based in Malaysia, the 47 year-old world champion and five-time US national champion, is the only player to hold both titles concurrently.


Since 2002, Nigel has held sway in the intellectual word game thanks to his “uncanny gift of constructing impossible words by stringing his letters through tiles already on the board.”
With a peak rating of 2298, the highest anyone has ever achieved with a minimum of 200 games played, he has won an estimated $215,000 in prize monies in his tournament career.


As can be attested by those who saw him in Uyo last year, Nigel is a confirmed ascetic- does not smoke or drink and has no radio or tv. All he needs is to hide behind his long beards as he buries his head in dictionaries and books.
Graced with an incredible photographic memory, Richards is definitely the man to beat as this year’s edition of the Classic starts today in Uyo.


However, as was the case last year, he will meet with stiff opposition to be offered by former champions of the Akpabio Scrabble and African champions, Nigerians all. In this category are Umujose Williams, Jighere Wellington and Sammy Okosagah among others.
At stake is the star prize of over N3million that will go to the winner of the Masters Category.


Soft spoken, Nigel told his host at the Uyo Airport on arrival that he is happy to be back.
He showered encomiums on the Akpabio Classics and said he was not surprised by its high rating, world-wide, and that he will not rest until he adds the Uyo crown to his numerous scalps that include World Championships in Czech Republic, US, Poland, Malaysia, India, England and Australia.


In another development, the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has confirmed the creation of a Female Category.
So far, 45 ladies have registered for this category including 15 former national champions.

8M up for grabs

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=82088

One of the biggest Scrabble Competitions in the world, the Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics is set to kick off September 24 in Uyo with a total prize money of N8m up for grabs.

World Champion, Nigel Richards had confirmed his participation in the competition that carries a grand prize of $22,000 for Masters category, $10,000 for intermediate and $18,000 for Open and Veterans in addition to other consolation prizes in all the categories.

The President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Suleiman Gora said in Uyo that all is set for the event that will attract the best of world class scrabble players from all over the world.

Mr Gora, who was in Uyo to hold “crucial talks” on the classics with the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Scrabble Association, Mr Ufot Edem, said every effort had been intensified to make this 8th edition the “……biggest yet,” even as he assured on the participation of the world champion, Nigel Richards and 50 other foreign players, who had written to confirm their participation.

On whether the Ebola scourge will affect foreign participation, the nation’s Scrabble boss said: “In as much as we are not expecting our brothers from Sierra Leone and Liberia, the effort put in place by the Federal Government to manage the spread of the virus here in Nigeria had received commendation world wide, making Nigeria a safe country to visit and to stay, hence the attendance of over 50 confirmed foreign players from USA, Pakistan, Thailand, UK, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa among others.”

The state Chairman, Mr Ebong said they were ready as host to guarantee the standard that the Classics had been elevated to over the years. “…Already, various sub committees have been put in place and they are working round the clock to ensure a flawless Classics in line with the dreams of the sponsor, a man who does not accept mediocrity.”

He went on to pay glowing tributes to His Excellency, Governor Godswill Akpabio for keeping faith with the Classics, even with the promise that it will continue, even when he is not in office. “…His Excellency has done well for Scrabble in the world, Nigeria in particular and we will remain grateful.”

http://www.punchng.com/sports/akpabio-scrabble-set-to-begin/



The Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics is set to begin with world champion Nigel Richards confirming participation.

The President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Suleiman Gora, said in Uyo that all is set for the international event.

Gora said every effort had been intensified to make the eighth edition the biggest. He assured on the participation of Nigel Richards and 50 other foreign players, who have written to confirm their participation.

On whether the Ebola scourge will affect foreign participation, the nation’s scrabble boss said, “In as much as we are not expecting players from Sierra Leone and Liberia, the effort put in by the Federal Government to manage the spread of the virus in Nigeria has received commendation worldwide. This makes Nigeria a very safe country to visit and to stay, hence the attendance of over 50 confirmed foreign players from USA, Pakistan, Thailand, UK, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa among others.”

The Akwa Ibom State scrabble chairman, Ufot Edem, said they were ready to host the event.

Pic from last year edition: The Governor teaching the World Champ, Nigel Richards some lessons

It beckons again, the greatest Scrabble championship on planet Earth.
Starting from the 24th day of September, the creme de la creme of World Scrabble shall be gathering in Uyo for the biggest and priciest Scrabble meet of the year.

The first prize for this premier division is $20,000 which is twice what is offered anywhere else on earth. Yes, twice. And it is footed by the Scrabble loving, Scrabble playing Governor of Akwa Ibom. There are other categories aside the The Premier category, we have Intermediate, Opens and Veteran categories available.

Not even Ebola scare is dampening enthusiasm from the Classics as the World Champ is coming. Also coming are hordes of past World Champs and European champion. Sammy Okosagah, a past winner, is also coming in From America with other top players.

Follow proceeding here and get updated on developments through the following links:

http://www.nigeriascrabble.com/

http://www.nigeriascrabble.com/event/godswill-akpabio-international-scrabble-classics-2/

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/world-champion-nigel-leads-50-international-players-to-akpabio-scrabble-classics/159385/

http://www.nigeriascrabble.com/event-registration/8th-godswill-akpabio-int-classics-registration/