Scrabble: Akpabio Int. Classics Begins In Uyo

The City of Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom, South-South, Nigeria, will be agog today as the 5th Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics gets underway.

Players around the world, including the current world champion, Thailand’s Pakorn Nemitrmansuk, who won the last World Scrabble Championships, will feature in the highest paid scrabble tournament in Africa.

According to the Secretary General of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, NSF, James Eakyns, this year’s edition attracted more international players because of the increased prize money of $15,000 for the winners in the Masters category.

Eakyns said the prize money and international flavour given to the tournament attracted players from Thailand, Tanzania, South Africa, Northern Ireland and others.

The scrabble scribe further disclosed that the Akpabio Classics would serve as a good tune-up for the nation’s players for the World Scrabble Championships coming up in Warsaw, Poland from 11-15 October. “We are using this high profile tourney in Uyo to prepare our players for the world tourney next month,” said Eaknys said.

—Bamidele Olowosagba