The highly anticipated fourth iteration of the One Guyana T10 tapeball tournament has unveiled an ambitious and significantly expanded structure for its 80-team, straight-knockout competition. Registration for all participating zones is set to open on May 8th. Organizers have stressed the importance of prompt registration, noting that participation slots are allocated strictly on a first-come, first-served basis upon payment of the stipulated entry fee. This season promises a substantial overhaul from previous years, integrating a phased schedule and a greatly enhanced financial incentive system.
Tournament play will commence across different geographic zones over several weeks. The initial phase is scheduled for the weekend of August 8th-9th in the Berbice region, which will host the first leg of competition limited to 16 teams. Following this, action will shift to the East Bank/West Demerara zone on August 15th-16th, with the Essequibo zone playing on August 22nd-23rd. A planned interval is in the schedule to allow for preparations related to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in Guyana. Upon the CPL’s conclusion, the tournament will resume with a revamped format for the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara region, extending its final zonal stage considerably.
This final zonal segment is structured to span four days, beginning with the Round-of-32 and Round-of-16 on September 26th-27th. This is followed by the quarterfinals and zone finals on October 3rd-4th. The culmination of the entire tournament will take place on October 11th, a date set to mark the national grand finale at the newly established Anna Regina National Stadium in Region Two. Significantly, organizers have confirmed that admission for all spectators attending the matches will remain free of charge.
What elevates this season is the profound enhancement to the prize money and structure. The competition features a tiered payout scheme, ensuring substantial rewards for multiple levels of performance. Each zone victor is slated to receive $500,000 and simultaneously secures an automatic entry into the subsequent Global T10 Tapeball tournament. These zone champions will then proceed to the National Finals, where the ultimate prize pool is structured to reward the national champion with a total of $2.5 million, with the runner-up earning $1.5 million.
Furthermore, the organizers have implemented measures to ensure that even teams eliminated before the final matches receive notable compensation. For the first time, quarter-final losers will earn $25,000. The semi-finalists and finalists within their respective zones are guaranteed payouts of $50,000 and $200,000. Individual player excellence is also recognized through substantial cash awards: the tournament MVP receives $150,000 plus a motorbike, while the leading run-scorer and top wicket-taker each secure $100,000 plus a television, complementing additional incentives for best economy and highest strike rate throughout the play.
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