WESPA, PANASA Endorse Gov Diri Scrabble Classic

The Governor Diri National Scrabble Championship has received the nod of both the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) and the PAN African Scrabble Association (PANASA).

The fourth edition of the tournament holds this weekend on August 24-25 in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

It is the first time the championship, which has attracted world, African and national scrabble champions, will be listed in the yearly calendar of the global and continental bodies.

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association (BYSA), Mr. Daniel Alabrah, who disclosed this on Thursday, said the tournament’s organising committee was elated that their effort to promote the game of scrabble beyond the shores of Bayelsa was beginning to attract positive recognition.

Alabrah explained that by the endorsement, the Bayelsa governor’s championship has been listed in the annual tournaments calendar of both bodies and that participants in the competition will be equally rated by them.

“The WESPA and PANASA endorsement is a huge encouragement for the state and organisers of the Governor Douye National Scrabble Championship. It is an elixir for us to keep promoting the exciting and endearing game of scrabble.

“We are very elated and express our appreciation to the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) for its role in making this possible.”

Alabrah applauded the sponsor of the tournament and governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, for his unrelenting and unrivalled commitment to the development of sports in general.

He said the sports-loving Bayelsa governor has been the driving force in the development of scrabble in the state just as he has supported other sports as part of his administration’s vision to positively engage youths of the state.

The BYSA chairman said all was set for hosting of season four of the scrabble championship with the biggest prize money in the country as well as special prizes for the best female players.

“We look forward to another weekend of the most exciting mind and intellect-building game.

“All is set for this edition of the tournament. No fewer than 250 players and officials from across Nigeria will converge on Yenagoa this weekend and Bayelsa is ready to host them,” he said.