One of Nigeria’s rising stars in Scrabble, Sophia Ekeruche, recently finished second in the women’s standing at the 16th African Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia. In an interview with Saturday Telegraph’s CHARLES OGUNDIYA, 15-year-old youngster described herself as ‘Small but Mighty’. Excerpts:

Tell us about your experience in Monrovia?

It was good because it was my first major tournament representing Nigeria.

I was also the youngest player at the tournament so nobody expected much from me at the beginning, but after a few games, everything changed. I no longer needed any introduction.

Whenever I sat down, people would say, “That’s her! Can I have a picture with you?” Things like that. I was surprised by the attention, but I enjoyed the experience.

You described yourself as “small but mighty”. At 15, you are competing against players old enough to be your father or grandfather. Can you talk about the mighty African woman behind that description.

Yes, I am 15, and I compete against people who are old enough to be my father or grandfathers.

There was one player I sat in front of who told me he was old enough to be my father. I was like, “Okay, who cares?” We started the game, and I won.

The man just kept looking at me, wondering, “Who is this girl?” And I said, “I’m Sophia.”

Experiences like that have taught me that success is not necessarily about your size or physical appearance. That is why I always say I am small but mighty.

Looking at the calibre of players you faced, were you ever intimidated?

I wouldn’t say I was intimidated, but I was under a lot of pressure during the last game because I needed to win certain matches. The players I was competing against were also very good, so I knew I had to give my best.

What kind of encouragement did you receive from your teammates, coaches and family?

It was great. Many of them kept telling me that I could do it. They reminded me that even though I might be the smallest player, I could still achieve great things. We received encouragement from our coaches, and there was also financial support, alongside encouragement from my parents and many other people. All of that helped me.

How did you get involved in Scrabble?

I was in primary school, and I was quite close to my Headmistress. One day, she was playing Scrabble with her husband and forming words.

I was good at spelling at the time, so I became interested in what they were doing. I was asked to form some words and I was like was it not just spelling and that was it.

My father also played when he was younger but he eventually stopped because there wasn’t much encouragement.

He later advised me on what I needed to do and how to approach the game. I did my best, and my first tournament was a Redeem Christian of Church tournament towards the end of 2022. To the glory of God, I won.

However, I wasn’t satisfied with that achievement because I wanted to do more. That was when I met Priscilla Akhabuae for the first time.

She saw my potential and encouraged me. She sent me the first copy of the three-letter words I needed to learn, and from there, I began making progress. Eventually, I represented Nigeria in Ethiopia.

Considering your achievements so far, how significant was the tournament in Monrovia?

It was very significant because it was my first major African tournament. It gave me an opportunity to compete against some of the best players on the continent and show what I could do.

Where do you see yourself in the next four years, considering what you have achieved already?

I want to become a champion at the highest level, win the African championship and become the best female Scrabble player in the world.

Scrabble is a game that requires a lot of mental effort. How challenging is it to combine the game with your education?

It is a lot of work because I am still in school. I am currently in Senior Secondary Two (SS2), and as I speak, I am going home to study because I have a series of tests.

I have to balance my education with Scrabble. Imagine people expecting you to perform very well academically while also expecting you to excel in Scrabble. It requires a lot of discipline. My time is always scheduled.

At a particular time, I am expected to do one thing, and at another time, I have to do something else. There are things I cannot do because I have other responsibilities. So, discipline is very important.

How much support do you receive from your school, particularly your teachers?

I wouldn’t really say I am receiving much support from my school at the moment because I am the only scrabble player in my school.

If I am talking about the support I receive, I would say it comes mainly from my family and the scrabble community.

Who are your role models in scrabble?

I have many role models, including Nigel Richards. I also look up to the players people refer to as the Three Musketeers: the current African champion, Abdulmumeen Jimoh, Timilehin Doko and Enoch Nwali. There are many others I admire because of their achievements and the way they play the game.

The National Sports Festival is around the corner, what should Nigerians expect from you?

Yes, I am getting ready for it. However, there is currently some uncertainty about whether scrabble will be included or not. We have been told that the chances are 50-50, so we are waiting to see what happens.

You have also competed at the Niger Delta Games. Can you talk about your experience there?

At the Niger Delta Games, I competed in the singles event. I won most of my games but eventually lost one match. In the doubles event, we lost only one game.

I ended up winning two gold medals in Scrabble. We were also hoping to win another gold medal in the team event, but something happened, and we couldn’t achieve that.

Having won two gold medals, are you looking forward to winning more in future tournaments?

Yes, definitely. It is going to require a lot of work, but we are ready to move to the next level. We are aiming for gold, and that is what matters now.

How does it feel when you win a gold medal and return home to the excitement of family, friends and supporters?

Oh, my God! You will see the excitement when I return. Everybody will be saying, “She’s back from wherever she went to.

She travelled by plane. She did this and that. Sophia is back!” It is always a wonderful feeling to return home after achieving something significant.

Do these achievements change the way you see yourself or how people relate to you?

I think people might be the ones who feel I have changed because of my achievements. They may think I am becoming a different person because of my status.

For instance, many people assume that someone who has achieved what I have achieved would attend a private school.

But I attend a government school, Ikorodu Senior High School. I am still the same person. I haven’t changed who I am because of my achievements.

How has your school responded to your achievements, particularly your recent recognition as a promising young scrabble player?

My school principal acknowledges my presence, but I feel there is still more that could be done to recognise my achievements.

Apart from the title I have just won, I am currently the world’s best youth female Scrabble player. I feel that is something worth celebrating, but my principal is yet to fully acknowledge that achievement.

How would you like people to remember you as a young Scrabble player?

I want people to remember me as someone who proved that age and size do not determine how far you can go. I am only 15, but I have competed against experienced players and achieved great things. That is why I call myself small but mighty.