Kenya’s Nderitu Gitonga has emerged victorious in a spectacular display of wordsmith prowess at the prestigious East, Central and South Africa (ECASA) 2024 Scrabble Championship held in Botswana’s capital Gaborone.
The three-day event witnessed an all-Kenyan podium sweep as Gitonga defeated compatriot Oyende Allen in the final to clinch the gold medal and taking home the grand prize of $2515,
He dominated the 40-player field with an impeccable record of 19 wins and only 8 losses after 27 rounds.
His remarkable positive spread of +1975 left the competition behind, powering him to the championship match against Allen, who racked up 18 wins against 9 losses and a spread of +1271, to claim the silver medal and the cash reward of $750.
Rounding out the all-Kenyan podium was Kimani David, whose record of 18 wins and 9 losses with a +967 spread secured him the bronze medal and $550 in prize money after defeating Gruzd Steven of South Africa.
The team has received praise from the country’s federation after their “pure dominance” in the Championship that saw Africa’s Scrabble being elevated to another level.
Notably, placements from 4th to 10th also earned cash rewards in order of their final standings.
The ECASA Championship, which kicked off on March 29th, brought together 40 of the region’s top Scrabble talents from five nations – hosts Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.
Four of the countries grabbed a place in the first ten, except host Botswana, whose best finish was at 18th position.
Additionally, 14 youth players aged 13-18 also participated, showcasing the game’s growing popularity among the younger generation.
Gitonga’s triumph comes just days after Scrabble made its debut at the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana, underscoring the mind sport’s burgeoning presence on the continental stage.
While Kenya dominated the podium positions, the host nation Botswana received praise for its excellent organization and hosting of the three-day ECASA Scrabble Championship at the Ave Maria Hotel and Ceremonies venue.
