Sports Groove

...Tips Uganda, Kenya to challenge as Liberia prepares to host the 16th ASC ...As PANASA opens an additional entry window for ahead of Liberia Championship By Maxwell Kumoye     President of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, is confident Nigeria has enough quality to defend its title at the 16th African Scrabble Championship scheduled to hold in Monrovia, Liberia. Adegbesan, fondly known as Sheikh, believes Nigeria's remarkable record in the continental competition puts the country in a strong position to retain its crown despite losing several players who have relocated abroad. Nigeria has won 14 of the last 15 editions of the African Scrabble Championship, establishing itself as the dominant force in the sport on the continent. Speaking ahead of the championship, Adegbesan acknowledged that the departure of some players could pose a challenge but insisted Nigeria still possesses the depth and quality required to remain African ch...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye Bayelsa State has continued to emerge as one of the strongest government supporters of scrabble development in Nigeria, with its sustained investment in competitions, grassroots development and elite players earning commendation from the Nigeria Scrabble Federation. For six consecutive years, the state has initiated and supported a national championship that has grown into one of the biggest scrabble competitions in Africa, attracting leading players from across Nigeria and participants from outside the country. The championship has also distinguished itself through its substantial prize purse, with the organisers taking the commitment a step further by doubling the prize money for the next edition. President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Engineer Bright Idahosa, praised Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, for his consistent support and passion for the development of the sport. Idahosa described Governor Dir...

...Automatic slots not guaranteed as 43 players make selection list   By Maxwell Kumoye     The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has reduced the minimum eligibility requirement for players seeking to participate in the qualification process for the 2026 African Scrabble Championship (ASC) from 50 to 30 NSF-rated games. The decision followed a review of the number of NSF-rated games played by players between January and August 2026.  The revised 30-game benchmark will now form the basis for the selection and invitation of players to the ASC 2026 qualifiers. A total of 43 players have been listed in the selection pool, comprising eight automatic qualifiers, three approved home-based wildcard recipients and 30 players under provisional Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) consideration. All players on the selection list are required to participate in the qualifiers, including those who secured automatic slots through NSF rankings, female rankings or championship sta...

  By Mishael Emmanuel      The stage is set for another thrilling showdown of words as the Dynamite Open Scrabble Championship 5.0 storms into Agege this April with a juicy ₦300,000 star prize on the line. Scheduled for April 18–19, 2026, at the Agege Local Government Secretariat in Lagos, the NSF-rated tournament is already generating buzz among top-rated players, rising stars and school talents eager to test their vocabulary under pressure. With 18 games guaranteed, competitors can expect a marathon of mind battles in what promises to be one of the most competitive editions yet. The flagship Dynamite Opens category will headline the championship, with players rated between 0 and 1199 battling for glory at a registration fee of ₦15,000, while female and student players enjoy a discounted fee of ₦10,000. But the competition isn’t limited to seasoned wordsmiths. Organisers have thrown the door open to the next generation through the Inter-Secondary Schools...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye who was in Benin City      The Executive Director of Sports Development and Operations, Edo State Sports Commission, (ESSC), Mrs. Sabina Chikere, has described the growth of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), as remarkable and outstanding and unprecedented. Mrs. Chikere, stated that the amount of young scrabble players at the just concluded Niger Delta Games is a shining testament of the development of the word and mind game in the country. She made this statement in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye.  The renowned sports administrator, was stunned by the large numbers of young players at the Scrabble event with ten year olds clinching podium finishes. Heading the long list of young scrabble who made their presence felt at the regional event is 10 year old, Pleasant Azuh Achalugo, from Akwa Ibom State. The young scrabble amazon, didn't just take the center stag...