By Ado Salisu
Nigeria’s top scrabble players and leading wordsmiths from across West Africa will converge on Yenagoa next weekend for the sixth edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic, with a record prize pool of nearly ₦20 million at stake.
The championship, one of the flagship events on the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) calendar, is sanctioned by the World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) and the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA). It will hold on August 1 and 2, 2026.
The opening rounds will take place at Matho Crystal Hotel on Imiringi Road, while the finals and closing ceremony are scheduled for the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall at the Bayelsa State Government House.
Governor Douye Diri, the chief host and Special Guest of Honour, is expected to attend the closing ceremony alongside members of the Bayelsa State Executive Council.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association (BYSA), Daniel Alabrah, said Governor Diri approved a significant increase in the tournament’s prize money following the success of the 2025 edition, raising the total prize fund across five categories to nearly ₦20 million.
He said the Masters category recorded the biggest increase, with the winner set to receive ₦2 million, double the amount awarded to last year’s champion.
Alabrah said the governor’s sustained support has helped raise the profile of scrabble in Bayelsa, inspired more young people to take up the game and strengthened the state’s reputation as a destination for major sporting events.
He added that Governor Diri’s investment in sports extends beyond football, wrestling, swimming and boxing, noting that scrabble has continued to thrive under his administration.
President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Engr Bright Idahosa, described the Governor Diri Classic as the country’s most prestigious scrabble tournament, attracting elite players from across Nigeria and the diaspora.
“We remain grateful to Governor Douye Diri for his consistent commitment to this championship. It has become the competition every serious scrabble player wants to be part of because of its quality, organisation and prestige,” he said.
Idahosa also commended Bayelsa’s hospitality, saying the peaceful atmosphere has made the state a favourite destination for participants.
“Bayelsa also offers a peaceful atmosphere and exceptional hospitality, which is why many of us now feel completely at home whenever we come here,” he added.
More than 300 players are expected to participate in this year’s edition, setting the stage for another keenly contested championship widely regarded as one of Africa’s premier scrabble tournaments.
