Chinedu Okwelogu - The 60-Year-Old Dreamer Chasing Scrabble Glory in Ghana
In this special report, Maxwell KUMOYE reports that a player affectionately called Sidespin is dreaming big despite his age.
Enjoy the special report...
At 60, when most men are telling bedtime stories to their grandchildren or reminiscing about their younger days, Chinedu Okwelogu is chasing a dream that began half a century ago — to play Scrabble for Nigeria at the 2025 World Championship in Ghana.
For Okwelogu, fondly known in Scrabble circles as Chinedu Thorpe or Sidespin, the thought alone sends a rush of excitement through his veins. The idea that he can still make the Nigerian team at his age feels almost surreal — but then, so has his entire journey through the world of words.
“I’m just happy to still be in the mix,” he says with the calm confidence of a man who knows his place on the board. “Scrabble has given me everything — education, a career, and purpose.”
A LIFE WRITTEN IN TILES
Chinedu first touched a Scrabble tile in 1973, long before smartphones and word apps made the game fashionable. But then, he abandoned it — for table tennis, his first sporting love. Ten years later, he found his way back to the board, and Scrabble has never let him go since.
It was Scrabble, not school, that taught him perseverance. After six failed attempts at his O-Level examinations, he finally passed in 1986, crediting his renewed discipline to the mental rigour of Scrabble demands. The same passion later earned him employment through the Scrabble community in Kano State, setting him on a professional path few would imagine possible from a board game.
THE GAME THAT NEVER RETIRES
Now, as he prepares to retire from the Federal Civil Service on November 7, Okwelogu finds himself reflecting on how Scrabble has literally employed him for life. Beyond tournaments, he continues to work as a Tournament Scrabble Consultant, mentoring younger players and organizing competitions.
In his words, “Scrabble is a sport that doesn’t discriminate by age or fitness. You can play at 20 or 70 — and still earn a living from it.”
Across the Nigerian Scrabble community, players in their 60s and 70s are a familiar sight at tournaments, many still collecting medals and prize money. Chinedu takes pride in being part of this rare breed — proof that mental sports offer a second life long after physical ones fade.
EYES ON GHANA
As the 2025 World Scrabble Championship (WESPAC) draws near, Chinedu is not thinking of retirement. He’s thinking of redemption. His last appearance on the global stage came in 2009, in Malaysia, where he finished around 68th. This time, he’s aiming for a Top 10 finish.
“I’ve worked more on my two- to six-letter words than ever before,” he says with a chuckle. “Those short words win games — and championships.”
MORE THAN A GAME
For Okwelogu, success in Ghana would be sweet, but even without a trophy, his journey is already complete. He is living proof of Scrabble’s quiet promise — that words can build a life, sustain a career, and even rewrite the meaning of retirement.
“Scrabble gave me a reason to keep dreaming,” he says softly. “And as long as I can still spell, I’ll keep playing.”
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