The second annual Skookum/WCT Yukon Cash Spiel got underway on Thursday at the Whitehorse Curling Club.

This year's tournament will feature even more competition as nine out-of-territory teams take part in the event.

One of those teammembers includes Randy Ferbey, who won the inaugural tournament.

'This is a phenomenal cashspiel,' said Ferbey. 'We were just commenting in our practice that this is probably the best ice we have played on all year and we have played in a lot of events. It was identical last year and that is one of the reasons why we came back because I knew it would be good and you always cross your fingers a little bit, but they have done an outstanding job.'

This is the only cashspiel hosted by the curling club throughout the season and it is one of their biggest events. The major sponsor of this tournament is Skookum Asphalt, which has agreed to a three-year deal guaranteeing the cashspiel will happen again next year.

Event passes for the event are being sold at the curling club to non-members for $20. Club members can take in the tournament for free. The cashspiel will be held from Nov. 22-25.

The tournament is a round robin format where each team plays five games before eight rinks are qualified for the playoffs, which start on Saturday. There is a guaranteed cash purse of $30,000 and the winning team will be awarded $10,000 as well as have their names inscribed on the 2007 Skookum/WCT trophy.

Nine local teams will also compete in the tournament, including Paul Hunter's rink, who took on Team Ferbey in last year's final.

Other notable curlers competing in this event are Rick Folk, who is a former world champion; Charley Thomas, who is a two-time world junior champion; and Kerry Koe, who has represented the Northwest Territories at the Scott Tournament of Hearts on multiple occasions.

Ferbey said he was asked last year if he wanted to participate by the club's former manager.

'The manager here gave us a call to see if we were interested in coming up for the inaugural one,' he said. 'We (the team) had an off weekend, so I took three friends up here and we just had an unbelievable time and that is why we are back this year.'

This year Ferbey came with his official team including regulars Marcel Rocque, Scott Pfeifer and David Nedohin.

He said it wasn't a tough sell to make to the team.

'Not at all, normally what I say goes,' Ferbey joked, knowing one of his teammates was in hearing range. 'They're excited to come here and I told them how great it was, so they are looking forward to it also.'

Ferbey said he had several close games at last year's tournament, including the final and the semi-final. Both were against a local team.

He doesn't know too many of the local teams personally, but Ferbey is sure there will be a couple who step up and do well.

'I know you have a fantastic young junior squad,' Ferbey said. 'The Scoffin rink, they are young and we played them last year and they gave us a heck of a game, so I am interested in seeing how much they have improved over the year.'

Pfeifer, a second on Team Ferbey, said they are never too concerned about the competition.

'We don't really worry about the other teams, we just come out and try to play our best and if that is good enough, great,' he said. 'We know that teams always get up to play us because they want to beat us, so I am sure it is going to be good competition.'

He said curling teams in the Yukon are getting better.

'We have played a lot of Yukon and Northwest Territories teams over the last few years at the Brier, and they always give us a good game,' Pfeifer said.

Clinton Abel is playing in the cashspiel for the first time on Team Solberg. Abel has been a member of the club since the early 90s and has been playing the game for 20 years.

He doesn't think being a member of the club will give him an advantage over the out-of-territory teams, but Abel is confident that this year a local team might step up and win the tournament. 'Anybody can be beat on a given day,' he said.

Abel said he is looking forward to taking part in the cashspiel.

'I have been out of competitive curling for three years now, so it is going to be fun to get back,' he said. 'I think it will be a good weekend.'