George Ezinore has emerged winner of the 2025 Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Championship held in Benin City, Edo State.
Ezinore, Africa’s number two scrabble player, pushed overcame a strong field of wordsmith that include current African champions Oluwatimilehin Doko, former NSF Green Jacket holder Dipo Akanbi and 2023 Africa Games Side event winner and multiple national champion, John Aiyedun to be crowned the Nigeria King of Scrabble.
The wordsmith, a member of Team Nigeria in the last three years, topped the table with 20 wins and a draw and a cumulative of plus 922 points from 28 games ahead of River State’s Larry Etuwa with 19 victories. Samuel Adebola representing Ogun State, came third with 18 wins.
Despite tallying with Jamiu Kareem of Oyo State, Adebola finished on the podium due to his higher cumulative points of plus 1236 while Kareem had 525 points with 18 victories.
Ezinore’s win is unique having ruled the roster with big words throughout the competition despite stiff opposition from the trio of Etuwa, Adebola and Akanbi.
After coming close to the top honour on several occasions, George Ezinore said he is a fulfilled player by winning the distinguished and eminent Asaph Zadok National Championship and will be wearing the celebrated prestigious NSF Green Jacket for the next one year as the King of Scrabble in Nigeria.
Ezinore dedicated his victory to all scrabble players in Edo and specially, the ever-supportive the Edo State Sports Commission.
“At the recently concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival, I narrowly missed the gold medal, so I had to fight hard to reach the zenith here on the home front. I feel elated and fulfilled as a player. This victory shows that if you invest well in sport, it will surely produce good fruits and Edo scrabble players can celebrate this honour.”
Ezinore will be decorated with the estimable NSF Green Jacket during the Awards and Gala Night that closes the Scrabble Festival supported by Edo State Government.
Meanwhile, in the team event at the Asaph Zadok National Championship, Ogun State topped the table, Team Lagos came second and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) managed by John Curtis completes the medal bracket.
The chairman of Edo State Scrabble Association (ESSA), Hanson Okhuoimose, was excited with Ezinore’s success story, even as he shared the roles of Edo State Sports Commission towards a successful hosting of the tournament by the NSF.
According to Hanson Okhuoimose:
“The Chairman and his board are steadily growing all the sports in the state and opening new opportunities for sportsmen and women to harness their potentials and make the State and Country proud. And George Ezinore’s win is an excellent example of investing right.”
Meanwhile, the draw for the second event in the Nigeria Scrabble Federation Festival – the Inter Club finals-holds today in Benin City.
Tournament Director, Kaleel Adedeji is expected to conduct the draw and will be assisted by Umar Faruq Baba-Inna a former NSF Technical Director.
The eight clubs that made it to the finals will be divided into two groups of four teams each with the top advancing to the semi-finals and then the final.
