Caribbean Classic were crowned champions of the inaugural staging of the much-anticipated Dragon Stout World Domino Championship, after edging Links United 150-149 in a thrilling grand finale at Red Stripe Oval on Sunday.

Links United had the upper hand over Caribbean Classic entering the countdown stage of the match and at one point were leading 144-138, looking all over the winner with only three tables playing the countdown stage of the competition. However, momentum shifted and Caribbean Classic got down to business and found the lead at the crucial stage of the game with a 149-147 lead. With the last round of games to be played by the three tables, Links United won two to level the score at 149-149, but Caribbean Classic held their nerves and pulled of one of the most exciting rallies to win the title.

With the win, Caribbean Classic walked away with the championship trophy along with $300,000, while Links United received their second-place championship trophy and $200,000. Old Harbour won third-place and got their third place trophy and $100,000.

Imru James, brand manager of Stouts and Malta at Red Stripe, said that the Dragon Stout tournament represents part of the company’s efforts to promote the sport of domino and grow the local domino landscape to reach a wider audience.

“The competition was very long as we started back in February for every week, but it was worth it. I mean, we connected with our consumers across the island and we were able to bring domino to the forefront of sports in Jamaica.

“It has always been that type of game that you would see people play leisurely, but what you realised through the Dragon Stout Domino sponsorships, it is a very technical game; you know; it involved a lot of strategies and it is very competitive as well.

“We are very pleased with everything as it is the first year and we are expecting to just climb and move from strength to strength for the upcoming years,” James told the Jamaica Observer.

James also said that the winner of the Dragon Stout World Domino Championships next year will get the opportunity to go overseas to compete or to have overseas winners coming here to compete.

“Dragon is sold across the world and so what we want to do is to really make the connection with other markets, with our European markets, North America markets and so forth to really see if our domino players here in Jamaica are as good as the overseas players and to really bring them together. This was just the first step of a bigger plan that we have in place.

“Next year’s winner will go overseas or the winners from overseas will come here, but we will have a bigger World Championships with not just Jamaican nationals but multinational players and so that will be very good.

“The Government is behind us as well, based on even the launch that we did and how minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange showed up. And even in terms of her speech, she was very pleased and she also wants to see how best she can help us to bring it to a bigger level,” said James.