Reigning world English Language Scrabble Players’ Association champion, Wellington Jighere has said when he was suspended by the Scrabble Federation of Nigeria, he contemplated quitting the game that has brought him fame and wealth. He spoke to SHOT! on his blossoming career and the future of the game in Nigeria.
After winning the world championship, you must be feeling on top of the world. How happy are you?
Hmm! well I am feeling good but very normal. I cannot deny it. It is a joyous moment for me, Nigerian and the continent of Africa.
Going into the championship, were you sure of winning the title?
One can never be too sure. It was for me to do my best and hope that I get results that would propel me to where I have reached at the world stage. I did my best and by the special grace of God, I became a world champion.
How would you describe your journey to Australia?
It was not so easy but it went well. One, we did not get visas in time. Secondly, after getting the visas, we ran into a lot of hiccups on the way to Australia. In fact we did not get a direct flight from Nigeria to Australia. We had to fly to Kula Lumpur in Malaysia where we were to join another flight to Australia. But when we got to Kula Lumpur we landed at airport one but the connecting flight was at airport two and we needed transit visas to get there. In the process, we missed the flight and had to book Malaysia Air at the airport to take us to Australia. We had to do12 extra hours at the airport. In the process, we were rushing and our luggage was even misplaced. It was five days after we reached Australia that our personal belongs were found and brought to us. So it was indeed a rough trip but we thank God for everything.
How were you able to cope with jetlag and fatigue?
It was not easy. We were suppose to arrive five days to the championship so we could acclimatise and settle down fully but we arrived a day to the championship. So it was not easy. However, we did our best to adjust.
How many matches did you play to emerge champion?
I played 32 games in the main championship and four in the final round to bring the total to 36. In the process, I played against 129 opponents. I eventually played the final match against English man, Lewis MacKay.
How challenging was it playing the finals against an English man?
It was a big challenge but I completely outclassed him. We played four games and I won them all so there was no need to continue with the remaining games.
Nigerians are asking how you managed to beat an English man in the final of world English language scrabble championship. How did you make it?
It was through hard work and a dint of luck. I gave my best in the finals. It was it indeed destined to happen. And I was more relaxed than my opponent. Generally, I had a lot of people supporting me. I can tell you that even his fellow Oyibos wanted me to win. I had come a long way. Beginning from 2007 when I made my debut on the world stage in Mumbai and came third, I have been under the radar. Anytime we go for any championship, I have been among those to be seeded. This was my second finals so everybody wanted me to win. It is good that I won on my second attempt.
What were you most difficult matches?
I had a lot of difficult matches but I can say matches 25 to 30 were the difficult games. When the player I beat in the finals was clearly leading, there was the need to adjust the pairings so that meant the top players were constantly paired to get the next person who would confront him in the finals. I had to fight my way through. It was like four to five rounds of gruelling matches. I am also surprised that I was able to pull through the matches.
In the course of playing, how do you combat nerves and fatigue?
Well I will say for about ten years, this is what I do for a living. So your question is like asking a wrestler how he or she copes with body pains. I have come up with ways to cope with what I call occupational hazard. So I look at constant headache as my own occupational hazard. I have a found a way to deal with it. And let me tell you that the secret of my success is my increased ability to handle stress.
How were you able to overcome the problems you had with the past leadership of the Scrabble Federation of Nigeria?
It was so serious that I was suspended for like three years but I had to swallow my pride and get back stronger. At a point I swore that I was not going to play scrabble again. However, after some years, I decided that this is the only thing I am good at. I studied crop science. I am a graduate of crop science under agriculture from University of Benin but this is what I know how to do best. Scrabble is my life. I came to the realisation that I had to fight to get back to the system and I want to say I have no regret taking that decision.
Nigerians would like to know why you were suspended….
That happened long ago and I think the bottom line is that we have settled all that so need to go over it again. We are moving on.
So how cordial is your relationship with the present leadership of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation?
It is very very cordial. I am getting all the necessary support from the federation. For instance, this very trip to Australia was fully funded by the federation. That goes a long way to show how we are having a harmonious relationship. In fact, I was not the only person who represented Nigeria in Australia. Six of us were sponsored to represent the country.
After your victory, what are your plans for the future?
Before this victory, I was thinking of quitting but now that I have conquered the world, I will surely like to stay and defend my title. It is not only about winning but being able to defend your crown. I have to push on for a little longer and see how long I will reign. I have to prove that my performance in Australia was not a fluke.
Immediately after your victory, President Muhammadu Buhari called to congratulate you. Could you describe the feeling?
It is hard to explain. It can’t be explained. It is something you can only feel. It was indeed a special moment which I will remember for a long time.
What do you think your victory will do to Nigerian scrabble?
My victory is the gateway to uhuru as we call it in scrabble. It means everything to Nigerian scrabble. In fact, not only Nigerian scrabble but Africa as a whole. A lot of good things will be coming our way. I can tell you that it is just the beginning of better things to come.
I have a feeling that you sleep and wake with English language dictionaries. How do you prepare for matches?
(Laughs) Playing scrabble is not about sleeping and waking with dictionaries. The game of scrabble is played based on English language. What happens in scrabble is that we adopt the dictionary that has the highest authority in English language. Some years back, it used to be the Chambers dictionary but in 2007 Collins took over and we had to change. So right now the dictionary we are using is Collins dictionary 2015 edition. We have new additions to the lexicon and it is very daunting trying to master the new words. So it entails studying just one dictionary and not all available English language dictionaries.
At the level you have played scrabble, is there anything like ‘guess work’? I mean taking a chance with words to win points.
That might work for armature players but at the professional level, that won’t work. You can’t do guess work at this level. The people I compete against are people who play for a living. They are highly intelligent people. For instance, the world number one prior to the last championship is someone who is trained to have photographic memory. Imagine going to compete against someone with photographic memory and you are doing guess work. It can never work.
Having reached this level, are you done with national tournaments?
Not really. I will continue to take part in national tournaments. I am the number one in Nigeria and I know that at the next tournament, I will be the man to beat. Everybody will like to ‘kill’ me to prove a point. Nigerians have this tradition of always dealing with anyone who has gone to win at the international level. So I am looking forward to being badly dealt with at the next tournament. I wouldn’t be surprised, if I am badly beaten by another Nigerian.
It’s like Nigerian scrabble revolves round you. Do we have other potential world champions?
We have a lot of potential world champions. The truth is Nigeria has the toughest playing field in the world. In the top 100 rated players in the world, Nigeria has the highest number within that 100. That tells you that in Nigeria there are more than 10 potential world champions. So my world championship victory will serve as a catalyst to boost every other person out there to go and do it. Most of my compatriots will say it is possible, so let us also do it.
