By Maxwell Kumoye
Veteran Nigerian Scrabble player Chinedu Okwelogu, fondly known in Scrabble circles as Chinedu Thorpe or Sidespin, is brimming with excitement at the prospect of representing Nigeria at the 2025 World English Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) in Ghana.
At 60, Okwelogu is defying age barriers and proving that Scrabble is indeed a lifelong sport. While many of his contemporaries are settling into retirement and grandparenthood, he is preparing to battle it out on the world stage against opponents young enough to be his grandchildren.
He is one of the 15 players selected by the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), to represent the country at the biannual competition holding in Accra, the Ghanaian capital next month.
For Okwelogu, the thrill of competing among the best minds in global Scrabble is not just about personal glory—it is a testament to the longevity and employability that the game offers.
Having first picked up Scrabble tiles in 1973 before a decade-long detour into table tennis, Okwelogu turned professional in 1983.
His love for the game eventually helped him achieve academic success, earning his O-Levels in 1986 after several unsuccessful attempts.
Sidespin’s passion for Scrabble also opened professional doors, leading to his employment within the Scrabble community in Kano State.
Now set to retire from the Federal Civil Service on November 7, Okwelogu remains fully active in the sport as a Tournament Scrabble Consultant, illustrating what he calls the “uncommon reality” of Scrabble as a lifelong profession.
“Scrabble can employ a human being for life in multiple capacities,” he said. “I’m fulfilled just by being an example of that truth.”
In both Nigerian and international Scrabble circles, it is not unusual to see players well into their 70s still competing—and winning prize money. Okwelogu takes pride in being part of that enduring tradition.
Looking ahead to WESPAC 2025, the veteran aims to break into the Top 10, determined to better his previous outing at the 2009 Championship in Malaysia, where he finished around 68th position.
Before heading to camp with the rest of his teammates, his preparations have been intense, focusing particularly on mastering two- to six-letter words, a key component of elite-level Scrabble success.
Team Nigeria will be camping in Lagos for about two weeks before leaving for Accra.
As Okwelogu counts down to Ghana, his journey stands as an inspiring reminder that passion and persistence can indeed make age just another word on the board.
By virtue of Nigeria’s leading role and state in the World, the country has been given 15 slots for players representation at the global event which runs from the 9th to the 17th of November 2025 in Accra.
As a country, Nigeria is currently ranked second in the World and that’s our lowest ranking in the last ten years.
After a series of National and Continental championships and Qualifiers the most revered and respected NSF Technical Committee has carefully selected 15 players who will represent Nigeria at the World Championship.
The list include, current African Champion, Oluwatimilehin Doko, former African Champion Rex Ogbakpa, PANASA President’s Cup winner Victor Godwin and Africa number two player George Ezinore as well as number three ranked player on the continent and highly rated in the World, Abdulmumin Jimoh.
The rest of Team Nigeria are very experienced serial winners at national and international competitions in the last five years.
TEAM NIGERIA SQUAD
★ Oluwatimilehin Doko – Continental Champion
★ John Aiyedun – All Africa Championship winner
★ George Ezinore – Africa’s No 2 and NSF Green Jacket holder
★ Victor Godwin – President Cup winner
★ Rex Ogbakpa – Continental Champion
★ Abdulmumin Jimoh – Exp
★ Tega Okiemute
★ Samuel Adebola
★ Chinedu Thorpe
★ Emmanuel Umujose – EEAST winner
★ Larry Etuwa
★ Ben Quickpen – 2024 NSF golden medallist
★ Tuoyo Mayuku – The most decorated female of all time in Africa
★ John Curtis Ebomah
★ Peter Ebomah
