Army dominoes tourney can take winners to world championship in Vegas

By Rob McIlvaineMarch 9, 2010

Army dominoes tourney can take winners to world championship in Vegas
Sgt. 1st Class Jose Osvaldo Rodriguez practices the new rules needed to compete in the U.S. Army Dominoes Tournament. On Feb. 17, he and his partner, Erick Figueroa, began competition at Fort Belvoir’s Officers’ Club. The month-long competition began... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, March 9, 2010) -- The Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command is hosting the first U.S. Army Domino Championship, which runs through April 24.

Dominoes fans will compete at 30 Army garrisons, and the victorious team will win an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas to compete in the 2010 World Domino Championship, with the chance to take home a part of the $40,000 cash prize purse.

"This program is the biggest event ever in the history of dominoes. Thanks to our friends at MWR, thousands of young men and women will be exposed to the sport," said Ralph Paniagua, president of R. Paniagua, Inc. "And with the championship at the Las Vegas Hilton over the Memorial Day weekend, this will mark a significant milestone for the sport of dominoes."

RPI worked jointly with DominoUSA, the governing U.S. domino federation, to establish the tournament rules and guidelines, and to ensure the fairness and integrity of the tournament.

"As president of the USA Domino Federation, I am very excited that this event will spread the word about dominoes to thousands of players," said Manuel Oquendo, president of Domino USA. "As a retired Army man, I'm hoping this will be very exciting for our Soldiers and their families to enjoy some downtime playing dominoes."

Participating bases in the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska will promote the tournament by giving military shoppers the chance to receive free domino sets. Also, when signing up for the tournament, team members will receive promotional items such as caps and t-shirts for the competition.

This year's events will take place at the following locations;

Anniston Army Depot, Ala.; Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Dietrick, Md.; Fort Devens, Mass.; U.S. Army Natick, Mass.; Fort Eustis, Va.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Huachua, Ariz.; Fort Irwin, Calif.; Fort Jackson, S.C.; Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Lee, Va.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Polk, La.; Fort Richardson, Alaska; Fort Riley, Kan.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Okla.; Fort Richardson, Alaska; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Tooele Army Depot, Utah; White Sands Missile Range, N.M.; and Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.

For further information and all tournament rules and regulations, visit www.DominoUSA.org and www.VivaDomino.com. To find a dominoes location near you, log on to www.MWRpromotions.com.

(Rob McIlvaine writes for FMWRC Public Affairs)