The Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios will come alive today for the staging of the Grand Finals of the Nutramix Double Six Domino Championship.

Fifteen team finalists from eight regional rounds will battle for cash and prizes, courtesy of Nutramix.

Kemoi Burke, events and promotions coordinator at Nutramix, explained what persons can expect at the finals.

“This year’s winners and runners-up can expect to walk away with bigger prizes. The winning team will walk away to $250,000 in cash, 300 baby chicks, and one ton of feed. Last year there wasn’t a prize for the runners-up but we have changed that, and that team will take home 150 baby chicks, a ton feed, and $50,000 in cash.

He added: “We will also have an open tournament where the winner will join our other 15 team finalists to play for the top prize. Our emcee, Dufton Shepherd, will have numerous giveaways for spectators, so everyone will have the chance to win something.”

The tournament began on June 24 in Old Harbour. Other regional rounds took place in Kingston, St Elizabeth, Savanna-la-Mar, St Thomas, St Mary, Mandeville and St James. It seeks to create relationships and give back to farmers while encouraging potential farmers to get involved in the agricultural industry. It also aims to celebrate the spirit of the domino game, a popular pastime for Jamaicans far and wide.

“Right across Jamaica you will see that domino is a favourite pastime for many, especially farmers. And after listening to feedback from our participants last year and making a few tweaks, we are happy to see how well received our second staging has been. For this year’s staging, we not only increased the cash prizes but also the prizes for feed and baby chicks, all of which can go a long way in helping our 32 winners and runners-up to build on and improve their business,” Burke added.

The last regional round took place last Saturday at the Montego Bay Community College in St James. Team Classic, comprising Isaiah Brown and Desmond Bucknor from Trelawny, emerged winners. Second place went to Team Strike Force, comprising Samuel Grant and Dexton Daley.

This is the first time that poultry farmers Bucknor and Brown have entered this competition.

“I feel really good about winning because I have been playing dominoes for over 40 years and it is the first time that I have ever won anything,” said Bucknor.

Brown added: “I love playing dominoes because I find it to be a good sport and it helps to keep the brain active.”

“We have always prided ourselves on building strong relationships with our farmers and this tournament helps us to build new and improve old relationships in the spirit of fun,” said Burke.