Four Nigerian players make top 20 on WESPAC’s day one
[FILES] Scrabble board. Photo; DAILYMAIL
Team Nigeria, at the weekend, started its quest to defend the World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPAC) title and also reclaim the individual crown at the global championship holding in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on a positive note with four of its players in the top 20 list on day one of the championship.
The four players currently leading Team Nigeria’s challenge are former African champion, Nsikak Etim, former world champion, Wellington Jighere; current national Green Jacket holder and West African champion, Eta Karo and Bright Idahosa.
Nigeria is occupying the second spot in the team event with 26 wins behind hosts, U.S. (28), Canada (23), while Australia is fourth with 22 wins among the 29 countries in attendance at the competition.
Etim is the highest ranked Nigerian in the individual event at number three, with seven wins and a cumulative points of plus 662 from eight rounds of games, just like Wellington Jighere, who is occupying the fourth spot on the table with seven wins, but with a lower cumulative points of 573.
In 14th position is Karo with six wins and plus 370 cumulative points and Bright Idahosa (18th) with six wins and plus 221 cumulative points are the other Nigerian touch bearers in the top 20 at the close of play on Day 1.
U.S.’ Will Anderson is leading the table with eight wins and a plus 888 cumulative points ahead of England’s Harshan Lamabadusuriya, who is yet to drop a game, just like Anderson, but has 569 cumulative points.
18 players, the highest by any African country and second only to hosts, U.S, are representing Nigeria at the World Championship.
Some Nigerians are also participating in the championship under different country’s flags.
Countries in the event are Australia, Canada, England, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, U.S. and Zambia.
Guardian.ng
