Team Nigeria Begins World Scrabble Championship With Wins
Team Nigeria began her quest to defend its team title and also reclaim the individual crown at the World Scrabble Championship on a positive note, with four players in the top 20 at the end of Day 1 of the championship, holding in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Nigeria is being represented at the World Championship by 18 players and the four players currently leading the Team in Las Vegas are: Former African Champion, Nsikak Etim, former World Champion, Wellington Jighere, current national Green Jacket holder and West African Champion, Eta Karo and Bright Idahosa.
Nigeria is occupying the second spot in the team event with 26 wins behind hosts USA on 28, Canada on 23 while Australia is fourth with 22 wins among the 29 countries in attendance at the competition. 
Nsikak Etim is the highest ranked Nigeria in the individual event at number 3 with 7 wins and a cumulative points of plus 662 from 8 rounds of games. Wellington Jighere, who is occupying the fourth spot on the table with 7 wins, also has a lower cumulative points of 573.
In 14th position, Eta Karo with 6 wins and plus 370 cumulative points and Bright Idahosa, 18th with 6 wins and plus 221 cumulative points are the other Nigerian touch bearers in the top 20 after the close of play on Day 1.
Home boy, Will Anderson is leading the table with 8 with and a plus 888 cumulative points ahead of England’s Harshan Lamabadusuriya who is yet to drop a game just like Anderson, but has 569 cumulative points.
Cumulative points separate this group of Nigerians with 5 wins, Emmanuel Ofidi, Olawale Fashina, Oshivere Avwenegha, Olatunde Oduwole, Ojiru Onota, Prince Osahon Omosefe and Tuoyo Mayuku.
Recently crowned third Governor Duoye Diri national championship and current African Champion, Enoch Nwali had a slow start at the World Championship losing his first four games before he regained his groove to win 3 out of the next 4 games.
Christian Mensah at number 20 with 5 victories and plus 564 cumulative points is the highest ranked Ghanaian at the championship. While George Addo-Quaye, Victor Amartey and Charles Haizel Tachie-Menson, regular faces in the Nigeria Scrabble circuit, are also doing Ghana proud in Las Vegas.
Patrick Mulemena Mpundu, Lubunda Ngala and Justin Chansa are the contestants from Zambia with 4, 3 and 2 wins each.
World Scrabble Championship/Jane Iyabode Aluko.
