The 2023 K. Fokam International Scrabble Tournament, organized by the Ligue Professionnelle de Scrabble Francophone, was held from July 2nd to 8th in Kribi, Cameroon. This major event brought together eight African countries, including Cameroon, Benin, Ivory Coast, Niger, DRC, Chad, Gabon and Togo. At the end of an intense competition, it was the Congolese Ngumba Ibn who distinguished himself by winning the title of African champion.
This tournament, dubbed “the K Fokam Millionaire Tournament”, brought together forty-nine passionate players from the various participating countries. After the group stages where each player faced the other members of his group, Ngumba Ibn brilliantly managed to qualify for the final against the Chadian lram Rilengar Maxime. Thanks to a remarkable performance, he managed to impose himself and hoist the flag of the DRC at the top of the podium.
Ngumba Ibn’s victory was not easy to achieve, as he had to face formidable opponents from the great Scrabble nations. He also overcame many obstacles to participate in this tournament. Indeed, due to a lack of financial means, he and his companion had to make a long trip by bus from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Kribi, in Cameroon, crossing the Congo River in particular and covering more than 2,500 kilometers in two days. Their determination to represent their country in this competition is admirable.
This Scrabble tournament, initiated by Daniel Essomba, also known as “Master Gitan”, is a revolutionary event in the world of Scrabble in Cameroon and Africa. Its objective is to take Scrabble out of precariousness and allow players to live fully from their art. Bearing the name of its main patron, Dr. Paul Kammogne Fokam, this tournament marks a turning point for Scrabble in general and paves the way for the professionalization of this mind game.
The victory of Ngumba Ibn at the international Scrabble K. Fokam 2023 tournament is therefore to be welcomed. His exemplary career and his determination to represent his country show the importance of Scrabble as an intellectual sport in Africa. May this success inspire other players and contribute to the development of Scrabble on the continent