[SPORTS] SU Sports Secretary Set to launch UI Chess and Scrabble League

By Thunder Balogun

The office of the SU Sports Secretary has approved the start of the UI scrabble and chess league following a statement that was released on the 3rd of March, 2023. “Uites” are known for their undying passion for the game as seen in their active participation during the last NUGA competition UI carted away some medals.

The Sports Secretary, Olawale Joshua Babatunde also known as OJB when approached gave some details about the league. Speaking on the purpose for its creation, he said “the league was created to make sure people have more interest in indoor games as they are less stressful when compared to other team games such as football, volleyball, table tennis. This will also make sure nobody has an excuse for not participating in any sport”.

Olawale Joshua Babatunde (OJB) SU Sports Secretary

He continued by saying “the league will commence on a soon-to-be communicated date. The game will only hold on Saturdays so that lectures won’t be affected. Entry into the league will be on individual level as anyone can apply with a fee of 1000 naira”.

He made further clarifications by saying “there is no limit to the number of contestants that can participate in the league as there will be prizes for the winner, first and second runners up. The winner will be awarded a cash prize of 15,000 naira while the second will be awarded with a cash prize of 10,000 naira and the third with a prize of 5,000 naira. Each of them (1^st,2^nd and 3rd) will also be given a scrabble board”.

According to him there won’t be any category in the scrabble game. He said “a player will have the chance of playing everyone on the list to become the league champion.” He also said that” after the first game week, some people will qualify to the next stage and those that didn’t qualify will go home.

However, the chess game is going to be different as there will be male and female categories. When asked why he said” that is how it has always been”. The winner in the male category will also get a cash prize of 15,000 naira, the second will be given 10,000 while the 3^rd will be given 5,000 naira. Each of them will also be given a chess board. It should be noted that the prizes for female category are going to be different. The sport secretary didn’t give a concrete reply when he was asked about the prize this category (female). He said “we are working on it”.

Furthermore, he made known the venue of each game. The scrabble game will be played at the Youth friendly center while the chess game will be played at the Cricket pavilion. He was asked if any sponsors has been gotten. He replied by saying “we are working on it and it is yielding positive results”. He also assured that the contestants will get refreshments.

The league is going to end during the student union week. This is also when the winners in each game will be crowned. The SU week will take place in May, 2023. He also gave some hints on another spectacular sports program that Uites should anticipate during the course of his administration which is the Fresh Men Interfaculty Sports Festival.