Kenya’s Grand Master Allan Oyende is looking to defend his title during the Scrabble Kenya tournament this weekend in Eldoret.
The Stima Club member won the Murang’a tournament title last month.
Oyende confirmed he will be returning to Eldoret for the two-day event starting on Saturday with the sole purpose of defending the title he won last year.
During the same event last year, Oyende beat former world champion Wellington Jighere from Nigeria to the title.
Before Murang'a, Oyende had lost to compatriot Patrick Gitonga during the East, Central and Southern Africa (ECASA) Championships in Gaborone, Botswana. Kenya swept the podium during the event with David Kimani in the third position.
“I need to build up on my Murang'a feat. Coming from such a victory, I need to maintain the winning ways. I lost in Gaborone but recovered in Murang’a and I hope Eldoret will be fine," he said.
In Eldoret, Oyende will be looking to take his point tally to another level ahead of the Africa Scrabble Championships that will be staged in Freetown, Sierra Leone from September 23-27.
“ECASA was very tricky for me but I went to Murang'a with the sole purpose of redeeming my image, which I did,” said Oyende.
Oyende collected 1894 points in Murang'a, beating Day One leader Bernard Koyyoko to second place with 271 points as Gitonga completed the podium.
Along the way, he beat Robert Mbugua and Onani Magwanga before losing the third game to Richard Okechi.
He then beat Martins Mutahi and lost Game 5 to Koyyoko and Nderitu in a row but managed to edge out Nicko Okioma, David Kimani, Muema Muumbi, Stanely Njoroge and Francis Wachia.
