It is known as "chess on ice" but New Zealand curlers will be playing "cash on ice" when they meet at Dunedin Ice Stadium at the weekend.
The country's first cash bonspiel will be held on Saturday and Sunday with New Zealand's best curling talent lining up for the big prize.
Five of New Zealand's top curling teams will compete for a prize money pool of $2200, with $1600 to the winning team and $600 for the runner-up.
New Zealand Curling secretary Pat Cooney said curling was becoming popular in New Zealand following the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The cash bonspiel was based on tournaments held regularly in Canada and the United States.
New Zealand's national squad would be competing at the event in preparation for the Pacific championships held in Korea in November, Cooney said.
The national squad would be joined by New Zealand's senior men's champions as well as three other teams from Dunedin, Wellington and Alexandra.
Event organiser Haymon Keeler said the event differed from other curling events because of the prize money.
"It creates pressure and pressure will prepare them for bigger events like the Pacific champs," he said.
The bonspiel is open to the public from 9am on Saturday.
The final will be played at 2pm on Sunday.
- Nick Rees
