THE 2026 South Pacific Motors Sports Club (SPMSC) Ultimate Team Challenge was officially launched on Tuesday at the Car Club in Port Moresby.
This year’s competition features 10 teams and will run for at least 26 weeks, making it one of the longest in-house sporting events at the club. Matches are scheduled on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.
“The format includes two full rounds, expected to take around 20 weeks,” tournament director Joe Chan explained. “The schedule allows breaks during the State of Origin period. After the round-robin matches, teams will be split into the top five and bottom five. The top five will compete for the Cup, while the bottom five will battle for the Plate during the finals, which will run for another two weeks.”
Chan said the Ultimate Team Challenge began four years ago as a relaxed, members-only competition. Membership remains a strict requirement for participation.
The inaugural winners were the Mustangs, then sponsored by APCS.
As the competition grew in popularity, more skilled darts, pool, and snooker players joined the club, boosting membership and raising the overall standard of play.
Now in its fourth year, the tournament has expanded to 10 teams, with matches played weekly across three nights.
For the past two years, Life Insurance Corporation Limited has supported the competition as naming rights sponsor.
Chan said their backing has helped increase prize money and improve the overall presentation of the event.
Last year’s champions, the Mustangs – sponsored by AST Security Services and Pacific Racing – claimed a K10,000 cash prize, along with trophies and an end-of-year presentation.
The 2026 Ultimate Team Challenge kicked off on Monday and promises months of competitive and entertaining action for SPMSC members.