Nigeria’s African Youth Scrabble captain, Sufiyan Boluwatife, emerged victorious at the 5th edition of the Black Knight Closed Scrabble Championship held in Ilorin, Kwara State, showcasing his strategic brilliance and resilience.
Boluwatife, who recently led Team Nigeria at the African Youth Championships in Kenya and also competed at the World Youth Scrabble tournament in Sri Lanka, clinched the title after a fierce contest. He recorded six wins with a cumulative +796 points, narrowly edging out defending champion Olawale Qudus, who had the same number of wins but finished with +303 points in the 22-player tournament.
Former national champion Kabiru Olaiya, who has championed the Black Knight Closed Scrabble Championship for talent discovery in Kwara State, praised the players for their performance. “I want to appreciate everyone for another successful edition of the Black Knight Closed Scrabble Championship. This tournament is my way of giving back to the sport and discovering young talents. Many players who have gone on to impress at the world level were discovered through this platform,” Olaiya said.
The one-day event featured 22 participants, with deserving players awarded cash prizes and accolades, further cementing the tournament’s role in nurturing Nigeria’s next generation of Scrabble champions.
