By Chigozie Chukwuleta/Chinedu Thorpe
The 2025 World Scrabble Championship is heating up, with Nigeria holding its ground as a dominant force in the competition.
With mixed fortunes as a fourth Nigerian makes it back into the Top 20, star word wizard Timi Woko is dislodged from pole position down to 3rd After Day 3 and four Nigerian players securing spots in the Top 20, showcasing their exceptional linguistic skills and mental agility.
The top Nigerian players, Timi Woko from Bayelsa State, currently ranked 3rd with 17 wins, although he played a remarkable game but was dislodged from the top spot. Victor Godwin from Delta State is ranked 8th with 16 wins, still swinging with intent and showcasing calculated moves and lethal gameplay. Rex Ogbakpa from Delta State sits comfortably at 11th place with 15 wins, while Timi Doko from Ogun State ranks 14th with 15 wins.
Additionally, two other Nigerians have made it to the Top 20: Lukeman Owolabi, representing Ireland, is ranked 17th with 15 wins, and Rasheed Balogun, representing the United States, is ranked 18th with 15 wins.
The battle for the top spot is getting fiercer, with Ghana and Kenya emerging as strong contenders. Ghana, the host nation, has refused to fade into the shadows, while Kenya has quietly built a storm with two players in the Top 20.
Two major titles are up for grabs: the World Scrabble Champion title, which will be awarded to the individual player with the highest ranking at the end of five days, and the Best Country title, which will go to the country whose players perform best on average in the top half of the field.
The competition will resume at 9:00 a.m. GMT on Saturday, November 15, with Day 4 promising to be a thrilling showdown. Will Nigeria maintain its dominance, or will other countries rise to the challenge? The world will be watching as these wordsmiths clash in Accra.
The *Top 20* after *Day 3* are composed of:
*5 Brits (4 Englishmen/1 Scotsman)*
*4 Nigerians*
*2 Canadians*
*2 Singaporeans*
*1 Pakistani*
*1 New Zealander*
*1 Ghanaian*
*1 Thai*
*1 Sierra Leonean*
*1 Irishman (a Nigerian)*
*1 American (
a Nigerian)*
