By Samuel Akpan
Despite facing initial setbacks with visa delays, Nigeria’s scrabble team delivered a dominant performance at the Causeway Scrabble Challenge in Bangkok, Thailand (May 29 – June 1, 2026).
Their exceptional results further solidify Nigeria’s standing as the world’s premier scrabble superpower.
As the largest and most competitive tournament on the global stage, this year’s Causeway Challenge drew over 440 elite players representing more than 30 nations.
Nigeria was represented by a 31-strong contingent comprising 26 athletes and five officials.
Two players delivered standout individual results for the team.
Olaribigbe Hakeem claimed first runner-up honours in Division One with 24 wins and 12 losses from 36 games and a cumulative spread of +1355 points.
In Division Three, Mbonu Olachi dominated proceedings to emerge champion, recording 27 wins and 9 losses across 36 games with an outstanding spread of +2141 points.
The Nigerian squad featured elite competitors including reigning African Champion Temileyin Doko, current National Champion Ezinore George, and the country’s highest-rated player, Jimoh Abdulmumuni.
Young athletes also gained valuable international exposure in the junior category as part of the pilot Scrabble-to-Schools Initiative designed to deepen grassroots development.
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade on Tuesday in Abuja commended the athletes for their fighting spirit and professionalism.
“This performance once again confirms Nigeria’s status as the world’s leading scrabble nation. Our players have shown tremendous character, resilience, and excellence in one of the toughest scrabble competitions anywhere in the world.
“We are proud of their achievements and remain committed to supporting them as they continue to fly the nation’s flag high on the international stage,” he stated.
Persecondnews reports that the team faced visa-related challenges that saw members proceed almost directly into competition upon arrival, costing valuable preparation time and the chance to settle into the tournament environment.
Despite these setbacks, the athletes showed remarkable resilience to secure podium finishes.
Nigeria entered the event as reigning World Scrabble Champions after its historic triumph at the World Scrabble Championships in Accra last year, and the Bangkok performance further reinforces the country’s position as Africa’s and the world’s foremost scrabble-playing nation.
With these victories secured, the team is already shifting its focus to title defense campaigns later this year.
Up next are the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya this September, followed by the African Scrabble Championships in October.
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