Nigeria’s youth captain Sufiyan Boluwatife won the fifth edition of the Black Knight Closed Scrabble Championship in Ilorin, Kwara, edging out defending champion Olawale Qudus

Nigeria’s youth captain, Sufiyan Boluwatife, emerged victorious at the fifth edition of the Black Knight Closed Scrabble Championship held in Ilorin, Kwara, after a fiercely contested tournament.

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Boluwatife, who has represented Team Nigeria at the African Youth Championships in Kenya and the World Youth Tournament in Sri Lanka, showcased his resilience and skill, clinching the top spot by cumulative points in a 22-player field.

Both Boluwatife and defending champion Olawale Qudus secured six wins each, but Boluwatife’s +796 points edged out Qudus, who finished with +303 cumulative points.

Former national champion Kabiru Olaiya, the brain behind the Black Knight Closed Scrabble Championship, commended all participants for contributing to the tournament’s success.

Olaiya, who has used the competition over the past five years to discover and nurture young talents in Kwara State, highlighted the tournament as a platform for producing world-class players.

“I want to appreciate everyone for another successful Black Knight Closed Scrabble Championship, now in its fifth edition,” Olaiya said.

“This tournament is my way of giving back to my constituency, which is sport, and specifically scrabble. Young players who have impressed at the world level have been discovered through this tournament, and we hope to get more if support is given in expanding it. Congratulations to all the players.”

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The one-day tournament saw 22 participants compete, with deserving players receiving cash prizes and awards for their performances.