Nigerian Scrabble Players Excel at Bangkok Event

Nigerian players shone brightly at the 2026 Causeway Scrabble Challenge in Bangkok, Thailand. Hakeem Olaribigbe finished as runner-up in the Premier Division. Olachi Mbonu won the title in Division Three, competing against a tough international field.

Charles Uzamere is the Vice President of the Lekki Scrabble Club. He also played in the tournament and finished in the top ten in Division Two after 36 rounds. He praised Michael Tang, the tournament organiser, for raising the standard of the championship.

"Walking into the main playing hall at the Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, I noticed a clear change in how the event felt. It was less like a quiet gathering and more like a premier international sporting event," Uzamere said.

Olaribigbe’s runner-up finish in the Premier Division was a significant achievement for Nigeria. He faced some of the best players in the world. Mbonu’s victory in Division Three was also impressive, as he competed against a strong international lineup.

This tournament marked Michael Tang’s return to elite Scrabble administration. He had stepped back in 2016 to focus on his family and health. Tang, known as “The Alchemist,” started the Causeway Scrabble Challenge in 2002. It began as a contest between players from Malaysia and Singapore. Now, it is one of the most respected events on the international Scrabble calendar.

This year's edition took things to the next level. Tang booked all 270 rooms at the Miracle Grand Convention Hotel for participants. He also brought in ten independent production teams to broadcast live matches. Advanced digital tile-tracking technology was introduced for viewers around the world.

Tang partnered with the Woogles team to involve 47 Thai students. They documented games in real time and produced over 1,800 annotated games from the 36-round competition.

Uzamere called the organization of the event a model for future mind sports competitions.

"In business, we talk a lot about organisational excellence. Michael Tang showed exactly how to execute a plan, turning a quiet tile game into a professional broadcast asset," he said.

Australian player David Eldar was the overall champion of the tournament. But Nigeria’s strong performance across various divisions kept the country among the top winners. This success continues to build Nigeria's reputation as a leading nation in world Scrabble.