Historical past was made in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday night as two younger Nigerian skills etched their names into the annals of phrase sports activities on the World Youth Scrabble Championships.
Staff Nigeria captain, Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu, grew to become the primary Nigerian and African to win a silver medal on the prestigious international occasion. The 17-year-old prodigy completed second behind India’s Madhav Gopal Kamath after a gruelling contest.
Aliu recorded 19 wins from 24 video games with a cumulative rating of 1,406 factors, whereas Kamath emerged champion with 21 wins and a superior cumulative tally of +2,354.
Pakistan’s Aehzam Ahmed secured third place with 17 wins and 1,728 factors.
It was double delight for Nigeria and Africa as Sophia Ebube Ekeruche made historical past by changing into the primary African feminine to say the Finest Feminine award.
The Lagos-born expertise, supported by the Chairman of Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Affiliation (LSSAMA), Engineer Dipo Akanbi, produced a spirited show to complete twelfth general out of 218 individuals from 16 international locations.
Ekeruche, the reigning U-15 African Youth Scrabble Champion, secured 15 wins and a pair of attracts from 24 video games with a cumulative rating of 867 factors.
Her outstanding consistency, 5 wins and a draw on every of the primary two days, adopted by 5 victories from seven matches on the ultimate day, sealed her continental milestone.
Different Nigerian representatives included Status Archibong and Pleasure Eberechukwu Nwabuzor, who completed exterior the medal spots. In the meantime, Kenya’s finest performer was Dalton Njenga, who positioned 113th with 12 wins.
Nepal’s Nityanta Chaulagain endured a tough outing, ending the competitors with no win and a cumulative rating of -4,341.
The efficiency of Aliu and Ekeruche not solely positioned Nigeria on the worldwide Scrabble map but additionally underlined Africa’s rising affect in the sport.
