According to Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) Top African countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Gambia, Cameroun, Botswana, Liberia, Zambia, and hosts, Nigeria, will feature in the inaugural Pan African Scrabble Association President’s Cup, which will hold from August 24 to 28 in Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the championship, PANASA President, Adekoyejo Adegbesan, said players from about 25 countries across the world are also expected to battle for the over $31,000 prize money.
He said: “As of today, players from Botswana, Cameroun, Uganda, Ghana, Zambia, The Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have all registered for the PANASA President’s Cup.
“One of the finest players on the continent, Uganda’s Edgar Odongkara, is among the 67 players registered for the feast.
“Kenya’s number one, Allan Oyende and Chris Ntege of Uganda are two household names on the continent coming to Nigeria for the PANASA President’s Cup, which is the biggest and richest scrabble prize money event on the continent of Africa,” the president said.
Adegbesan, who was elected PANASA president in October last year, in Lusaka, Zambia, explained that the event is open to all players from Nigeria, Africa, and the rest of the world, adding that it is one of his campaign promises.
He said that another bi-yearly competition would be added to the African Scrabble Championship calendar at the senior level.
“We have slots for 150 players and so far, 67 players have registered, but the window for registration closes July 31,” Adegbesan added.
Of the over $31,000 prize money, the top prize, which is the Gbenga Ojofeitimi Trophy, is $5,000, he said, adding that the SM Quartey Trophy, which is the second prize is $2,500, while $1,700 will go to the third-placed player.
“The prize money will be spread to the top 15 players, but special prizes will be given to the best-placed player from a country that registered at least three participants.
“This special prize is open to Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa.
“The top two female players at the end of the championship will get an additional prize money irrespective of their standing at the end of the event,” he said.
The organizers of the event also said that 25 games would be played during the preliminary rounds of the competition, five rounds would hold in the semifinal, and five rounds would be decided in the final based on the Collins Scrabble Words 2021 dictionary.
According to the organizers, registration for the President’s Cup opened on March 1 and will end on July 31, with interested players to pay $50 as a registration fee.
