Emmanuel King beat 19 other players to win the 2019 Presidential Scrabble Championship, at the Siaka Stevens Stadium hostel. King won 13 out of the 16 games played with a spread of +1,389 to finish ahead of his closest rival, Abdul Borbor Kamara. Kamara won 13 games, losing 3 with a spread of +1,053. Ibrahim Deen Swaray leapfrogged Yusuf Koroma and Ishmael Sesay to finish 3rd having won 10 and losing 6 with a spread of +825. King who also won the previous National Championship, said, “It was a closely fought championship and Abdul Borbor Kamara was very inspiring player,” King said. Asked whether he was nervous before the decisive clash with Abdul Borbor Kamara in game 15, he replied, “I was, to be honest, because he is a very strong opponent. I had to pray before the match commenced. No player would love to lose such championship after a perfect start in day one and two but thanks be to God I made it with remarkable spread.” “It was a battle between one man and the rest of 19 players,” King said following the victory. “I’ve not slept well in about a week for this competition because I wanted to prove that I’m the best. The fact that I was able to perform with a remarkable spread shows I have taken a step forward.” King said he is now looking forward to win the National Championship ahead of the 2019 World Scrabble Championship in Doha, India. King said he dedicated his championship victory to his mum, whose birthday was the same day as the day as the championship.

14/5/19

By Bernard Turay

Tel: 077579484/076829887

Wednesday May 15, 2019.