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Sun, May

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World English-Language Scrabble Players Association champion, Wellington Jighere, was on Sunday dethroned by Bahraini Akshay Bhandarkar in Kenya on Sunday. Bhandarkar defeated another Nigerian Moses Peter 4-3 in the final of the (WESPAC) to replace Jighere, who won the title in 2015 in Australia.

(WESPAC) 2017 began on November 6 and featured over 200 players from 30 countries. The players played 32 games in a round-robin format with the top two players playing in the final on the last day.

 

Bhandarkar won with a final score of 23-9 +1082 while Peter was second with a score of 22-10 +1762. Jighere began the competition on a bright note but faltered on the fifth day when he lost some games. He finished the competition with a 21-11 +1181 score to place fourth behind New Zealand’s Nigel Richard, who was third with 21-11 +2146 score.

 

Bhandarkar went home with $7,000 and a trophy while Peter got $6,000 and a trophy. Richard received $5,000 and a trophy and Jighere got $4,000. Other Nigerians in the top 15 of the competition are Kabir Olaiya, who finished sixth, Karo Eta, who finished ninth, and Ikekeregor Dennis, who finished 13th.

 

Jighere said that his mistakes cost him the chance to retain his title. “I wanted to defend the title but I only got close. I believe that a few mistakes in some games cost me a few points and that wasn’t enough for me to get to the final.

 

But there is always another time and I will return for the title once again in the next edition. It would have been beautiful to have an African champion – Peter was close and I am happy a Nigerian was in the final. The sport is fast improving and soon enough we will produce another world champion.” he said.

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