As he heaved a sigh of relief after reconciliation of score with his adversary John Ayedun (Grand Master) in game 17 and with a game to spare Charles Tachie-Menson, the Ghanaian ‘Word Lord’ knew he had finally achieved his ambition of re-announcing his presence on foreign turf as he carted away the one million naira top prize-money and of course, the title at the third edition of the Lekki Scrabble Classics which ended on Sunday.
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 in 18 to etch his name in the most glamourous tournament organised by a Scrabble Club in Africa.
“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 a frenetic 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.
As expected, the tournament lived beyond expectations as players were rewarded with cash prizes right from the first round to the end of the tournament.
