It was some moments of hugging, screaming and backslapping by players as members of the Team Ogun State, who topped the Scrabble overall medals table with eight medals, consisting of four gold, three silver and a bronze.

Having won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the Singles and Doubles events, the Prince Dapo Abiodun Jammers mined for more top medals in the Team Event on the final day on Tuesday.

Their efforts yielded an additional gold in the Intermediate category as African Youth champion David Ojih, Hakeem Ogundokun, and Tunde Saporu clawed their way to the top of the table after 12 rounds.

The female team, led by African Games double gold medallist Adebisi Adekansi, with experienced Bukunmi Afolayan and Youth prodigy Joy Ola, grabbed the silver medal with nine wins and three defeats above Team Lagos, but were behind Team Delta which took the gold medal.

The Opens’ triad of Emmanuel Ogiogio, David Idris and Olumide Sobowale also helped themselves to a silver medal with 9 wins behind gold winner Team FCT, while Team Anambra State took the bronze medal.

On the medals table, FCT finished second with three gold and one bronze medal while Team Delta State got two gold, two silver and one bronze to place third.

Fourth-placed Team Bayelsa State won two gold medals and

Edo got one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Team Lagos earned three silver and two bronze medals ahead of Team Oyo State, which won two silver medals. Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia and Anambra won a bronze medal each.

Players and officials gave a good review of the hosting state for providing a good tournament ambience and feeding.

Ogun State Scrabble Association Chairman Adekoyejo Adegbesan said the state was never ready to lower the standards, but to raise the standards to a fresh level at the National Sports Festival.

“It’s never been like this before. You can see the ambience, equipment are new; the playing boards, pro-tiles, pro-timer. We just put up the best of the best. All our players are happy that we’ve been able to create this opportunity for them to play scrabble.”

Adekoyejo, who also heads the continent’s Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) was full of good words as he described his team as the best Scrabble-playing state in Nigeria.

“Congratulations, Team. You have no idea what you all have just done at this National Sports Festival! You have cemented our spot as the Best Scrabble Playing State in Nigeria. We have won everything there is to win, and now we are the National Champions.”

Twenty-four states participated in the five-day event.