World Scrabble champion Wellington Jighere of Nigeria will grace the national series set for this weekend in Eldoret.
The Scrabble Kenya Eldoret Chapter chairman John Sang said the Nigerian international, who has dominated the world for a long time, will be in attendance in one of the most competitive national series ahead of the World English Scrabble Players Association Championships (WESPAC) in Las Vegas, USA.
As the host, Sang said they expect top players from across the country with the event coming after the country retained the East, Central, and Southern Africa (ECASA) title in Nairobi during Easter Holidays last month. Willy Mwangi won the individual title during the ECASA annual tournament.
Mwangi, who is a barber won the title after scooping the highest 127 points after placing the longest word during the tournament as INCHOATES before placing the word ATOMIZER.
Mwangi also triumphed in the last Scrabble Kenya qualification round in Bondo and went on to win the competition's Gibsonized round, helping Kenya to retain the overall title.
“This will be one of the biggest tournaments in the Scrabble Kenya series because hosting a world champion is not easy. This will equally attract top players from across the country,” said Sang.
On Monday, the Eldoret-based players hosted the Labour Day celebration tournament at the Eldoret Social Hall with top players using the event as a build-up in readiness for this weekend's show at the same venue.
“We hosted a successful Labour Day tournament and this is part of our preparations for this weekend's event,” said Sang. During the event, Paul Bosita beat Sang to the second spot.
Kenya One player Allan Oyende will also be in contention as well as Nderitu Gitonga, Michael Gongolo, former chairman Bernard Amuke, Bernard Koyyoko, Tony Ocholla and Martins Mutahi among others.
