Boards and Buffett retreat, a new, bright begining of scrabble on The Plateau

…I’m satisfied with turnout and performances of the participants, Chairman Plateau State Scrabble Association – Mohammed Abbas

…Grateful and appreciative for honouring me – Alex Bot-Mang Dadung

By Maxwell Kumoye

“The Boards & Buffet Retreat was a huge success. It brought out the best On The Plateau and our friends from outside the State together in celebration to honour a scrabble enthusiast who is one of the Pillars of the mind game in “The Home of Peace and Tourism.”

This is how the Chairman of Plateau State Scrabble Association (PSSA), Mohammed Abbas, described the recently concluded Boards & Buffet Retreat with 52 participants in attendance in Jos, the Plateau State capital North Central, Nigeria.

Abbas further stated that; “This event like many others before it was meant to help us graduate more of our players from social to competitive scrabble as manifested in the quality of play and observance of competition rules as well as the growing number of entrants for these events.”

“The Boards & Buffet Retreat retreat pushed Plateau Scrabble a notch higher as inclusion of the veterans category expanded our categories from two to three categories.” The Chairman added.

Ughomaria Umokoro, won the 26 man strong Division A category of the Retreat with 7 wins and a cumulative of plus 1131 points ahead Alhassan Shaibu who recorded 6 wins just like the Ola sisters, Joy and Blessing. However Alhassan Shaibu had a better cumulative points of 762, Joy had 587 while Blessing secured 90 points cumulative.

The Division B title went to young and promising player Hauwa Abdullahi with 7 wins and a cumulative points of 573. Kelvin Pam lost out of the top honour in that division by 5 cumulative points difference, he had the same number of wins like Hauwa Abdullahi. Emmanuel Almagani was third in the 18 man field.

Division C, reserved for the veterans went Obed Okere.

The event which is State rated enables players to earn rating points towards qualification for the Numero Uno Challenge coming up in March 2024, where the top ten players on the State rating will compete for the bragging right of the Lord On The Plateau.

The Retreat was indeed an exciting experience. It was wonderful having to honour a Scrabble enthusiast on the Plateau in the person of Mr. Dadung Botmang, a rising political figure on The Plateau.

“The future of Scrabble on the Plateau is bright and promising and assured by the mark already made by young players from Plateau State on the National level. With the assistance of spirited individuals, lovers of Scrabble and the Government, ably represented by the Plateau State Director of Sports at the Retreat, Plateau State Scrabble will reach heights never imagined.” The Chairman concluded.

Meanwhile, Alex Bot-Mang Dadung in whose honour the Retreat was staged was full of praise and kind words for the Plateau State Scrabble Association (PSSA) led by its Chairman Mohammed Abbas, the players and other Scrabble stakeholders in the North Central region of Nigeria and Plateau State in particular.

“On behalf of me and my family, I want to take out time to appreciate each and every one of you that contributed and attended this ospicious occasion marking my birthday, I want to say thank you, I pray and wish that the Scrabble family will grow bigger and stronger. Nagode.” He stated.

We understand that the event is likely to be an annual scrabble competition in the years to come as Mr Alex Bot-Mang Dadung and his network of friends and associates are ready and willing to support it.