Gary Peart, chairman at Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), says while his company is excited to launch their newest initiative — the Supreme Domino Master competition — the gaming company will use the tournament as a platform to lend support to the National Blood Transfusion Service.

The tournament, which will be played in a “cut-throat” format, will kick off with a series of seven community qualifiers, the first of which will be at Pier 1 in Montego Bay on March 12.

The tournament continues on March 19 at Miggie’s Sportsbar in Spanish Town; on April 2 at Shanshy Beach Bar in Port Antonio; on April 23 at Smart Choice Jerk Centre in Negril; on May 7 at Ken’s Wildflower in Portmore, St Catherine; on May 14 at the Ultimate Jerk Centre in Discovery Bay; and on May 21 at Murray’s Jerk and Fish Hut in May Pen.

The national championship is slated for June 11 at the National Arena in Kingston.

Peart said that he is encouraging players and spectators to come out and give blood, which could save lives.

“Every time there’s an accident, there’s a call for blood, and people don’t realise there’s a delay in operations. So even though we already have a partnership with the blood bank where our employees give blood every three months, we thought it was a good idea because while you are watching the game, you can be giving blood,” Peart told the Jamaica Observer at the launch of the event at the Kingston Jerk Centre on Wednesday.

“I believe we will be able to attract a large number of people, and if we can get enough blood into the blood bank, you will no longer see people asking for blood donations when visitors arrive because there will be so much blood bank.”I think it is a huge social responsibility, and that is the part that excites us the most,” the chairman added.

Players interested in participating in the tournament can register online at www.svl.com or purchase tickets at any of the 16 ticket outlets located throughout the island, including Pier 1, Fontana Pharmacy, the Montego Bay Retail Centres (City Centre and Fairview), and Fairview Texaco, in Montego Bay; Savannna La Mar Texaco and Fontana Pharmacy in Savanna La Mar; Ocho Rios Retail Centre and Fontana Pharmacy in Ocho Rois; Spanish Twon Retail centre in Spanish Town; Fontana Pharmacy in Mandeville; Cross Roads Retail Centre, Flagship Store (Constant Sprint Road), Fontana Pharmacy (Barbican), Fontana Pharmacy (Waterloo) in St Andrew; and Portmore Retail Centre in Portmore, St Catherine.

The cost of tickets for the community qualifiers is $2,000 per person, and for the national level, it is $5,000. The top 16 individuals from each community will qualify directly for the national championship.

“Technology is a key factor in structuring and elevating the sport of dominoes. It has been around for a while, and we think bringing technology into it will bring out more people and bring out the beauty of the game. SVL is not only going to structure the tournament to give people across Jamaica the chance to compete for the title of national champion, but we are also going to use that technology and that data for the first time in a domino tournament in Jamaica.

“We have invested in the development of the software. This software will enable us to collect player data and provide credible statistics to back up the crowning of domino’s first national champion.

“With the use of technology in this tournament and our commitment to elevating this beloved game to national status, we hope to create lasting legacy for the sport of dominoes in Jamaica,” Peart said.