Hailed as a burgeoning “national spectacle” and a vital “breeding ground for Guyanese talent,” the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast was officially launched on Saturday, promising a bigger and more lucrative tournament in its third iteration. The expanded competition, set to commence on June 28 in Berbice, has garnered significant backing from the corporate sector and the highest levels of government, underlining its growing stature in the nation’s sporting landscape.Deodat Indar, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, who represented President Dr. Irfaan Ali at the launch event at RS53 Etkezo, lauded the tournament’s expansion, which aims to feature up to 80 teams.Minister Indar emphasised the tournament’s role in uncovering local talent and promoting unity.“This tournament is a breeding ground for Guyanese talent,” Indar stated. “Cricket is a household name; a sport that unites…One Guyana is about unity, building from the ground up.”He commended the organizers, FL Sport, for crafting a product that has earned the trust of the corporate community, evidenced by the return of numerous sponsors and the addition of new partners.The significant increase in prize money reflects the tournament’s growth and success.Zonal winners will earn GY$ 300,000 and a coveted spot in the national finals.From left: Natasha Persaud of Kares Group of Companies, FL Sport’s John Ramsingh, and Minister Deodat Indar with the championship trophyThe ultimate champion will walk away with a staggering GY$1.7 million, while the runners-up will receive a handsome GY$700,000.Even losing semi-finalists and zonal finalists are set to be rewarded, with purses of GY$ 300,000 and GY$ 100,000, respectively.Former national cricketer Steven Jacobs described the event as a “national spectacle,” praising its wide reach and audience engagement.Echoing a challenge from President Ali, Jacobs called for the inclusion of female teams to ensure the tournament’s continued growth and its potential to attract regional and international interest.FL Sport has embraced this call, announcing plans to include at least four female teams in this year’s edition.Tournament Director John Ramsingh expressed his gratitude for the government’s support, which has granted access to some of the premier cricket facilities across the country. He highlighted the strong private sector partnerships that have enabled the tournament to offer substantial rewards to the players and attract international attention.“We are thrilled to be back on board,” said Natasha Persaud, representing title sponsor Kares Group of Companies, noting their pleasure in seeing the tournament’s year-on-year expansion.The preliminary rounds will be held across four zones: Berbice (June 28-29), East Bank/West Demerara (July 5-6), Georgetown/East Coast Demerara (July 19-20), and Essequibo (July 26-27).The tournament will culminate in a grand finale on August 3rd at the National Stadium, Providence.Registration is currently open for a fee of GY$ 30,000 per team.With a surge of early interest, organizers are confident of reaching their target of 80 teams.The Georgetown/East Coast Demerara zone has the capacity for up to 32 teams.For registration and further information, interested teams can contact Akeem Greene via WhatsApp at +5926352235 or visit the “One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast” social media pages.The post ‘A Breeding Ground for Talent’: Kares One Guyana T10 unveils lucrative and expanded tournament appeared first on News Room Guyana.