WESTERN BUREAU:

THE AIR Jamaica World Champion-ship of Dominoes, which was held for six consecutive years before taking a one-year break last year, will return to the local sporting calendar this year with the championship slated for the Holiday Inn Sunspree in Montego Bay from October 18-21.

The tournament, which has been attracting players from major domino playing countries, such as, the United States, Canada and some Caribbean countries, reportedly offers the largest cash prizes of any domino tournament played worldwide. Jamaica, which has had the distinction of winning the championship, usually fields in excess of 60 per cent of the more than 400 players who compete annually.

According to George deMercado, senior executive of marketing and sales for Air Jamaica - the main sponsors, the decision to bring back the tournament this year was largely influenced by the appeal from past participants who have been contending the non-staging of the competition last year created a major void in the game.

Players who have been attending the tournament over the years, encouraged us to pull out all stops to make the 2006 Air Jamaica World Cham-pionship of Dominoes a reality," said deMercado.

"The tournament not only provides three solid days of intense competition to the players vying for prizes, but also creates a vacation for their families and friends who travel with the players for support."

Registration for the October tournament in Montego Bay will begin in mid-September. Forms will be available at Air Jamaica city ticket offices in Kingston and Montego Bay.