By Hananeel Jackson

The quest to give Bayelsa State good representation in the 20th National Sports Festival in Edo State continued at the weekend on the ongoing Bayelsa state scrabble retreat in week eleven of the second edition of scrabble the retreat

At the weekend, Ben Quickpen and Maide Areh emerged champions in their respective categories.

Ben Quickpen the father of Africa young chess sensation Deborah Quickpen picked  a total of +485 points after twelve rounds; winning ten out of  twelve in category A, having finished 7th last week .

while Maide Areh continued  from were he stopped last week in category B by reclaiming the top spot acquiring +321 after ten rounds winning eight out of ten.
Precious Igali second time maintained second place accumulating  +412 points but not as fantastic like last week dropping thirty nine points in category  B .

Vera Zini who could only manage 7th  position last week moved sixth places to dethrone Sonny Agazi in second place in category B.

After finishing outside the top ten last week, Vice Chairman of the Bayelsa State Scrabble Association Timi Woko stepped up his game at the weekend to seal the 3rd position.

He was  closely followed by Head Coach of  the Association   Preye Okorodas  who scored 4th position in category A same with Piriye Pipa and Douglas Borogha in category B.

While basking in last weeks euphoria Aniso Joseph could not continue were he stopped in week ten as he dropped to 6th position after a comfortable victory last with +681 points while Ezekiel Eniekebi and Doubri Owoupele could only manage 5th to 7th in  their respective categories.

Also Jonathan Debo, Akpos Malafakumo and Abule Ateh finished 5th to 7th as well in category B.

Desmond August,Imbiakpa, Onu Jeffrey and Vincent Munanyo occupied 9th and 10th place while Dorcas Innocent and Sonny Agazi for the first failed to make the top ten of the scrabble retreat.

Week twelve of the second edition of the scrabble retreat will continue on the 12th of this month at the indoor hall Samson Siasia stadium. 

Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council Sir Braveman Wodi while commending the state scrabble team for relentless spirit said the council would  continue to give the team  the needed support  ahead of fiesta in Edo State.

On his part Chairman Bayelsa State Scrabble Association Mr. Daniel Alabrah noted that the last one month of retreat has shown that Bayelsa scrabbler can compete favorably with their counterparts in the world.

Mr. Alabrah also expressed optimism that team Bayelsa would finish strong  in Edo 2020.