Organisers of the Leo Cup announced on Monday that this year’s third edition of the nationwide volleyball tournament would feature a slightly altered format, while the prize money would also increase.

Cambodian Volleyball Federation secretary-general Boeung Kim Tao said in a press conference at NagaWorld that the provincial preliminaries, held in five locations including Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham and Sihanoukville, would be used to find 10 sides to join last year’s top six teams in the finals stage in the capital.

This finals stage will consist of two phases. Teams are to be split into four groups of four, and then the top two of each group will advance to a Division A playoff, while the bottom two of each group will go into Division B. Kanjit Paewpunchu, marketing manager at Boon Rawd International Co Ltd, which brews Leo Beer in Thailand, said the prize fund had been increased from 60 million riel ($14,990) to 76 million riel.

The preliminaries are to start in Phnom Penh on March 31 and conclude in Siem Reap on July 20.