Twelve clubs have emerged from the preliminary stage to begin the board battle for honours at the NSF Inter Club Challenge Abeokuta 2024.
The preliminary saw hostilities among 28 clubs from 13 states including the Nigeria Police.
After the conclusion of the preliminaries in the zones, Benin SC, Victory SC of Warri and Uyo SC were the latest clubs to book their tickets from the South-South Zonal Play-Off in Benin City, Edo State.
In South-West, Ikorodu SC emerged to the final with 3 wins against big guns Lekki SC and Alausa SC that made their maiden appearance in the NSF Inter Club Championship in group C.
Surulere SC sailed to the NSF Inter Club Challenge finals as winners of the second chance Play off of the South West Zone.
They edged out Ibadan SC and Lekki Scrabble Club with three wins and a plus 450 cumulative points.
In the North Central zone, Kaduna Central Scrabble Club were the first team to pick their ticket to the finals of the NSF Inter Club Championship after brushing aside South Side Scrabble Club.
Also,Apex Scrabble Club of Abuja, that parades the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Technical Director, John Curtis, his brother, Peter Ebomah, young and talented National Sports Festival gold medalist and aof Team Nigeria to the African, Games Jimoh Abdulmumin, 2023 winner of the MGI Patrons Cup, Anthony Odok, qualified for the Challenge finals from the North Central Zonal Play-Off.
Jos SC fondly called Rock Solid Jammers, also booked their place in the National finals by beating Central Scrabble Club Abuja A, B and C teams. Winning 11 rounds, 54 games and a cumulative of plus 1211 points.
Anambra Scrabble Club, the sole entrance from the South East are also through to the national NSF Inter Club Championship finals.
Warri Scrabble Club, also known as Victory SC that parades famous wordsmith, Emmanuel ujose, winner of the PANASA President’s Cup, Godwin Victor, Jacob Tone, Larry Etuwa and Akpojotor Ochuko are the defending champions of the NSF Inter Club Championship.
Teams that are through to the finals are:
✓ BENIN SC
✓ VICTORY SC
✓ UYO SC
✓ JOS SC
✓ APEX SC
✓ ANAMBRA SC
✓ ABEOKUTA SC as host city club
✓ KADUNA CENTRAL SC
✓ SURULERE SC
✓ IKORODU SC
✓ PYRAMID SC
✓ UNILAG Scrabble Club
The NSF Inter Club Challenge is one of the four events lined up for this year’s NSF Scrabble Festival holding at the landmark, June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto-Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The other events are:
★ Asaph Zadok National Championship, which produces the national champion who wears the NSF Green Jacket and State Champion
★ Annual General Meeting (AGM)
★ Awards and Gala Night
Delta State are the defending champions of the Asaph Zadok National Championship, with Eta Paul Karo as the holder of the NSF Green Jacket 2023.