Fresh from anchoring Word Warriors, the national Scrabble team to win a East, Central and Southern Africa (ECASA) hat trick last month, Patrick Nderitu Gitonga extend his win in this weekend’s Scrabble Kenya tournament by winning Meru series that was held at Meru Slopes Hotel.
Gitonga, after finishing 4th in the opening round on Saturday, ending the day behind Nairobi County’s Martins Mutahi, returnee Dr. Michael Gongolo and Patrick Miriti, managed to edge his opponents to win the title in the tournament that attracted 80 competitors from across all the Divisions.
Nderitu Gitonga made it five wins in a row after piping Gongolo in a nail biting finale after winning 13 out of 18 games +951 while Gongolo won 12.5 games +619 to get second place with Nakuru County’s Willy Mwangi came a distance third.
Gitonga, who was in super form at ECASA, extended his top form, saying the tournament was well prepared hence good performance.
“I have been in good shape that is why I have meneged to win today’s title. The hosts were good for a lovely tournament,” said Gitonga.
Apart from the national series, he announced that there would be a scrabble clinic to host at Journey rest hotel in Makutano, Kirinyaga County where top players and coaching anyone that would love to join the noble sport.
In the Intermediate division, Scrabble Kenya treasurer, Charles Mokaya bagged the top prize while Samson Midigo from Nairobi County won second place. Third place went to Dr. David Magu from Nyeri County.
Scrabble Kenya ICT Director, Joseph Mahinda, won the Open Division with a round to spare. Sylvanus Muli from Nairobi County won 2nd place while Tom Sumba of Kenya Pipeline Company took the bronze.
The highest rating gain was +344 by Joseph Mahinda while the highest combined score was 1006 by Gitonga Nderitu and Macharia Kimani.
The tournament was also officially the last tournament before Scrabble Kenya adopts the new words released this month.
Action now shifts to Machakos County on the 8th and 9th of June.