Patrick Gitonga Nderitu led Allan Oyende and David Kimani to sweep all podium positions at the concluded East, Central and Southern Africa Scrabble championships held in Gaborone, Botswana.
The second seed player won 19, losing 8 games in the 27 match championships to garner 1975 points ahead of Oyende to second position with 18 wins and 9 losses for a total of 1271 points and Kimani completing the podium with 967 points after recording 18 wins and 9 losses in the three day tournament that started on Friday morning to Sunday evening.
The champion started on a bad note losing the opening two games to Zambian Chipika Simanwe and Davis Apuuli from Uganda before recording the first win against Mulenga Chitundu of Zambia. He lost game 8 and 10 to Botswana’s Jared Omolo and South African Steven Gruzd respectively before going down to Richard Oketch in game 18.
Gruzd defeated Gitong again in games 20 and 21, Oyende in game 22 and 25 respectively for the title.
The tournament attracted five national made up of Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, hosts Botswana in the 27, three day tournament that was sanctioned by Pan Africa Scrabble Association (PANASA) and World English Scrabble Players Association Championships (WESPAC) approved event.
Top ten finishers
- Gitonga Nderitu (KEN) 1975 points
- Allan Oyende (KEN) 1271
- David Kimani (KEN) 967
- Steven Gruz (RSA) 114
- Richard Oketch (KEN) 691
- Isaac Mwape (ZAM) 478
- Justin Chansa (ZAM) 413
- Joseph Chavutia (KEN) 298
- Davis Apuuli (UGA) 240
- Bernard Amuke (KEN) 1065