A huge sum of $4.35 million will be the prize money on offer for the inaugural 2010 Dragon Stout Domino Tournament to be hosted by the World Series of Dominoes, which was launched yesterday at Red Stripe Vibe Sports Bar.

Sponsored by Dragon Stout in association with Paymaster, Ocean Spray and the Jamaica Observer, the Dragon Stout Domino Tournament is an islandwide, four-man cut-throat event, scheduled to start on Friday, December 4, 2009 at Stanley's Submarine Bar in Morant Bay, St Thomas, and end on Saturday, April 4, 2010 at Red Stripe's plant. The tournament is said to be the largest ever held in Jamaica.

Kerry Newman (centre), director/organiser of the 2010 Dragon Stout Domino Tournament, gets the attention of (from left) Joseph Oates, brand manager Dragon; Tamara Ward, Ocean Spray's county manager; Natalie St Louis, general manager business development and marketing at Paymaster; and the Observer's Andre Reid, head of Events and PR, during yesterday's launch at the Red Stripe Vibe Sports Bar. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

The contest is open to players 18 years and older and offers first prize money of a whopping $2 million; second prize of $1 million; third prize of $500,000 and fourth prize of $250,000.

Players finishing fifth through 16th will receive $50,000 each, and to enter they must sign up at the nearest Paymaster location with a registration fee of $2,500.

A World Series of Dominoes representative will contact each entrant with elimination details, and onsite registration will be available at the elimination venues on the tournament dates.

However, the organisers are offering an 'early bird' special where a friend can be registered free if entries are registered before December 1, advises Kerry Newman, director/ organiser of the event.

From the four players seated at each table, only one will advance to the next round, while three will be eliminated from the tournament.

Players will contest three sets of 'Straight Sixes' or 'Race to Six', with the player accumulating the most points over the three sets emerging the winner. This format will apply to all games, including the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

During matches, any player who wins six games straight (six love) against none for the three opponents will win a bonus of $10,000 plus a crate of dragon stout.

Also, the female players that advances the farthest in the tournament will win a bonus of $100,000.

According to Joseph Oates, brand manager Dragon, his company's association with this tournament was a natural marriage because his
brand Dragon, like the past time of dominoes, has a long history in Jamaica.

He also hailed the magnitude of the tournament. "The tournament is the first island wide cut throat domino tournament and is also the largest tournament that has ever been held in the island," Oates said.

Meanwhile, over the years the game of dominoes has evolved into a celebrated sport with strong linkages to the Jamaican culture and Ocean Spray & Ocean Spray WATA, similarly have linkages and have successfully penetrated the heart of the Jamaican people, noted Tamara Ward, Ocean Spray's county manager. "This tournament will provide the family of brands an opportunity to further connect with consumers in their communities in a new, fun, and rewarding way," she added.

She also noted that Wisynco's contributions to the tournament amounts to over $750,000, which will be utilised in the overall promotion and execution of the event. Compliment of the brands, the tournament will also feature drink
specials, new 6 Love signature recipes, spot prizes for patrons, and give-aways for participants.

And Natalie St Louis, general manager business development and marketing at Paymaster, said as a sponsor her company is able to provide the convenience to all domino lovers and potential entrants, by accepting collections or registration fees in over 160 locations island wide between Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.

In continuing, she added that in addition to collecting for the tournament, Paymaster is also able to promote this event in all its locations, to the extensive customer base that makes payment to over 53 client companies, including utilities, cable, insurance, internet providers, security monitoring, financial loan repayments, high school and university fees, toll tag sales, etop-ups, US Embassy Visa Appointment and scheduling and recently this year, the collection of property taxes and traffic tickets.

The Observer's Andre Reid, head of Events and PR, expressed his company's delight at the association with the event.

"Whether its six love or the 'killing' of double six, those of us who have played the game know too well not only the sheer magnitude of the mental test, but equally the thrills of victory and the disappointment of defeat that a good game brings.

"Jamaica Observer is very happy to be the exclusive print media sponsor for the World Series of Dominoes competition which promises to be a truly exciting series of domino games.

"As the nation's first and only full-colour newspaper, we have been publishing for the last several months entry forms for this competition and will continue to provide our readers with all the exclusive details and insight into the series.
"There are many exciting prizes to be won and these details can also be found only on the pages of the Observer and our evening paper, Chat," he said.

Source:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20091110T190000-0500_163529_OBS_DRAGON_LAUNCHES______M_WORLD_DOMINO_SERIES.asp