As part of his preparations to capture the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) title, the former Scrabble Kenya chairman Bernard Amuke won the Mombasa Championships title on Sunday at the Akha Khan Academy, Mombasa.
The tournament attracted top African players including PANASA president Adekoyejo Adegbesan and Hakeem Olaribigbe of Nigeria. Others were Ghanaian Haruna Adamu and the Ugandan duo of Davis Apuuli, and Isaac Mabinda among others.
Amuke said the event was a good build-up ahead of the continental show set for October 23-27 in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He said he has had §enough time to concentrate on play after exiting association leadership two years ago.
“I left managerial positions and now I have free time to concentrate on the game and record good scores. I am more relaxed and the concentration is high,” said Amuke.
He said the win in Mombasa gives him an upper hand ahead of the PANASA Games. “I have to play well in such events to sharpen my skills ahead of PANASA,” he noted, adding that he wants to remain consistent in the game.
Amuke, who is part of the Word Warriors, the national scrabble team, won 13 out of possible 18 games and the event served as part of his preparation for the big stage.
Seeded sixth in the country, Amuke beat Martin Ongoji in the opening match before falling to Manase Otieno, Willy Mwangi and Adegbesan. He then recovered to beat Kenya One Allan Oyende in game 5 and trounced Cecilia Ruto, SK chairman Kipkemoi Limo, Andrew Wabwire, Richard Okechi, Ian Oyoo, Hakeem and Bernard Koyyoko.
He revenged against Mwangi and Manase to settle for the top position with 1705 points. Otieno, who won 12 and lost 6, was second with Okechi completing the podium with similar wins and losses.
Oyende came a distant fourth with Hakeem fifth and Stanley Njoroge sixth overall.