Ghana’s Tachie-Menson Wins Lekki Scrabble Classics Title

Ghana’s Charles Tachie-Menson defeated John Ayedun to win the 2024 Lekki Scrabble Classics, the third edition of the competition.

In a competition that boasted of the presence of African Champion Enoch Nwali (CC), West African Champion Timilehin Doko, PANASA President’s Cup winner Godwin Victor and other top rated jammers, Tachie-Menson deflected the Day One Winner ‘curse’ to pull through the waters despite losing his first game on Day Two.

He would complete the takeover in Division A with 14 wins despite dropping his last game in round 18 to etch his name in the most glamourous tournament organised by a Scrabble Club in Africa.

Tachie-Menson was delighted to win the competition in Nigeria.

He said, “My father is married to my Nigerian mother. Playing in Nigeria is like playing at home. After winning Day One, I was a little bit skeptical because we were supposed to play 12 games, but it was reduced to 11, and I was on fire. I actually had to take my cool going into Day Two.”

Ayedun (GM) finished second to take home half the winner’s prize while Emmanuel Umujose, Nwali, Godwin and Hakeem Olaribigbe followed in third, fourth, fifth and sixth position respectively.

Meanwhile, it was an impressive finish in Division B as Babatunde Adeagbo, who had controlled the standing fending off rivals for a longer period of the tournament fell at the last hurdle in Round 18 to Babajide Alagbada, who snatched the title from him to win the category with a higher 1032 cumulative points to Adeagbo’s 871 after both tied at 14 wins.

Nigeria Scrabble Federation President Olobatoke Aka said the classics was his long-term plan of developing the game where clubs activate its growth from their community.

He argued that the inability of Nigerian players not to win the Classics was a good sign of waking them up ahead for challenges at the forthcoming African Scrabble Championship in Kigali, Rwanda in October.

President of the Lekki Scrabble Club Samuel Anikoh said he was highly satisfied with the turnout as the Classics has achieved the aim of providing platforms for the younger players to thrive while giving competition to the established ones by attracting the best even from Africa.

In the same vein, Ebikeme Adowei, the immediate past president and a founding member of the club, described the classics as a success.

Other players also expressed optimism about the tournament.

At the closing ceremony attended by top Scrabble bigwigs including Nigeria Scrabble Federation President Olobatoke Aka, sponsors as well as Guinness Book of World Record (GWR) former winner Hilda Baci, the audience were entertained with a match between Tachie-Menson and former world champion Wellington Jighere.

Baci, the celebrity Cook who loves the game, also participated in an Exhibition Match where she teamed up with Sophia and played against Team Adeola-Favour to the admiration of all.