Kerry Newman (standing), managing director of the Dragon Stout World Series of Domino, shares a joke with sponsors' representatives Joseph Oates (left), brand manager Dragon Stout, Tamara Ward (second left), Ocean Spray country manager, Andre Peart (right), PR and events manager Jamaica Observer and Natalie St Louis (partly hidden), business development and marketing manager, Paymaster, around the domino table at yesterday's launch of the $4.3 million event. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.

Total prize money of $4.35 million will be at stake when the inaugural Dragon Stout World Series of Domino makes its first pose on Friday, December 4 in St Thomas.

The exciting new cut-throat style tournament, which offers a first prize of $2 million, will run for four months with 40 events planned islandwide. The final is scheduled for April 7, 2010.

This, the biggest domino tournament ever staged in Jamaica - surpassing the Air Jamaica World Championship of Dominoes which offered $1 million to the winning pair - was launched yesterday at the Red Stripe Vibes Sports Bar, Spanish Town Road.

Sponsors

Dragon Stout has joined hands with Ocean Spray, Paymaster and the Jamaica Observer in sponsoring the event.

The sponsors were represented by Joseph Oates, brand manager Dragon; Natalie St Louis, business and development manager Paymaster; Tamara Ward, Ocean Spray country manager and Andre Peart, PR and Events manager, Jamaica Observer.

Peart said entry forms will be published in the Observer and entry fees of $2,500 per player can be paid at any of the 160 locations of Paymaster islandwide.

Kerry Newman, managing director World Series of Domino, said that in addition to a whopping $2 million to the winning player, the runner-up will receive a cool $1 million, third $500,000 and fourth $250,000, while the players finishing from fifth to 16th place will each receive $50,0000.

In addition, the female player who reaches the highest level will receive $100,000.

Tara Playfair-Scott announced from the podium that she will be one of the women in the tournament and that she intends to go a far way.

Eliminations start on December 4 at Stanley Submarine Bar in Morant Bay, the quarter finals moving to King's Solomon Mines in Bog Walk, the semis at Ken's Wildflower in Portmore and the final at the Red Stripe playing field, Spanish Town Road.

Expecting a crowd

Newman is expecting anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 players islandwide to enter.

"Domino is very popular in Jamaica and I cannot recall the individual winner of any sporting event receiving so much money. I'm really looking forward to this event and I can tell you, it's going to generate a lot of excitement.

"With so much at stake, we are expecting players from the United States and the Eastern Caribbean to enter, going back and forth if fortunate to advance. For domino lovers across the island, this is a can't miss affair", said Newman who added that players must be 18 and over to participate and will be required to show proof of age (driver's licence, passport, etc.).

In an impromptu domino match among the four representatives of the sponsors, Tamara Ward came out on top ahead of St Louis, Oates and Peart. MC was Kim Lee, Brand PR manager Red Stripe.