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Players' Championship

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For other uses, see Players Championship (disambiguation).
Players' Championship
Established1993
2023 host cityToronto, Ontario
2023 arenaMattamy Athletic Centre
PurseCAD $175,000
Current champions (2022)
MenAlberta Kevin Koe
WomenSweden Isabella Wranå
Current edition
Grand Slam of Curling events
Former events:

The Players' Championship is one of the final events on the World Curling Tour (WCT) and is a part of the Grand Slam of Curling.

From 2016 to 2019, it was the penultimate slam of the curling season, and the last of the four "majors".[1] The event was one of the original Grand Slam events when they were instituted in the 2001–02 season for men and for the 2006–07 season for women.

History

The event began as the "VO Cup" before the Grand Slam era in 1993, as part of the very first World Curling Tour season.[2] The event was known as the VO Cup for two seasons before title sponsor Seagram's Distillery pulled out.[3] With no sponsor, the 1995 event was saved at the last minute, and continued the next season thanks to a TV deal with TSN.[4]

A women's event was introduced in 2006.[5]

From 2007 to 2009, it was a qualifying tournament for the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, and had barred foreign teams from entering (unlike the other Slams). Scotland's Eve Muirhead became the first non-Canadian skip to win the event in 2013, while Sweden's Niklas Edin became the first non Canadian skip to win the men's event in 2017.

To date, Edmonton's Kevin Martin has won the most Players' Championships with 8. On the women's side, Winnipeg's Jennifer Jones (and her long-time second, Jill Officer) have won the most championships with 6.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the 2020 Players' Championship and the 2020 Champions Cup were cancelled.[6]

Qualification

The top 12 teams on the men's and women's WCT year-to-date rankings respectively qualify for the event. Teams that decline their invitations are replaced by the next highest ranked team.[7]

Format

In 2023 and from 2014 to 2021, the event featured 12 teams split into two pools of six which compete in a round robin, with the top six teams advancing to a single game elimination playoff. In 2021, the number of teams earning playoff berths was reduced from eight.[8][9] The 2022 event was a triple knockout.

Past champions

Men

Year Winning team Runner-up team Location Purse
1993 Ontario Russ Howard, Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Peter Corner Ontario Paul Savage, Graeme McCarrel, Ian Tetley, Todd Tsukamoto[10] Calgary, Alberta $120,000[11]
1994 Alberta Kevin Martin, Kevin Park, James Pahl, Don Bartlett Ontario Ed Werenich, John Kawaja, Pat Perroud, Neil Harrison Calgary, Alberta $100,000[12]
1995 (Apr.) Saskatchewan Murray McEachern, Rick Schneider, Daryl Nixon, Larry Schneider Saskatchewan Brad Heidt, Mark Dacey, Wayne Charteris, Dan Ormsby Selkirk, Manitoba $75,000[3]
1995 (Dec.) Ontario Wayne Middaugh, Graeme McCarrel, Ian Tetley, Scott Bailey Manitoba Dale Duguid, Dan Carey, Russ Hayes, Doug Armstrong Jasper, Alberta $106,000[4]
1997 Ontario Russ Howard, Glenn Howard, Scott Patterson, Phil Loevenmark Saskatchewan Randy Woytowich, Rick Schneider, Brian McCusker, John Grundy[13] Winnipeg, Manitoba $60,000[14]
1998 Alberta Kevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Rudy Ramcharan, Marcel Rocque Manitoba Vic Peters, Dave Smith, Chris Neufeld, Don Harvey[15] Fort McMurray, Alberta $60,000[16]
1999 Ontario Wayne Middaugh, Graeme McCarrel, Ian Tetley, Scott Bailey Ontario Russ Howard, Glenn Howard, Peter Corner, Neil Harrison Winnipeg, Manitoba $150,000[17]
2000 Alberta Kevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Carter Rycroft, Don Bartlett Ontario Wayne Middaugh, Graeme McCarrel, Ian Tetley, Scott Bailey Winnipeg, Manitoba $150,000[18]
2001 Ontario Wayne Middaugh, Graeme McCarrel, Ian Tetley, Scott Bailey Alberta Kevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Carter Rycroft, Don Bartlett Calgary, Alberta $150,000[19]
2002 Ontario Wayne Middaugh, Graeme McCarrel, Ian Tetley, Scott Bailey Manitoba Vic Peters, Mark Olson, Chris Neufeld, Steve Gould Strathroy, Ontario $150,000
2003 Manitoba Jeff Stoughton, Jon Mead, Gary Van Den Berghe, Jim Spencer Ontario John Morris, Joe Frans, Brent Laing, Craig Savill Leduc, Alberta $150,000
2004 Alberta John Morris, Kevin Koe, Marc Kennedy, Paul Moffatt Alberta Kevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Carter Rycroft, Don Bartlett St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $150,000
2005 Alberta Kevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Carter Rycroft, Don Bartlett Newfoundland and Labrador Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Mike Adam, Jamie Korab St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $150,000
2006 Alberta Randy Ferbey, David Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque Alberta Kevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Carter Rycroft, Adam Enright Calgary, Alberta $150,000[20]
2007 Alberta Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert Alberta Blake MacDonald, Kevin Park, Carter Rycroft, Nolan Thiessen Calgary, Alberta $100,000
2008 Ontario Glenn Howard, Richard Hart, Brent Laing, Craig Savill Alberta Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert St. John's, Newfoundland $100,000
2009 Alberta Randy Ferbey, David Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque Ontario Glenn Howard, Richard Hart, Brent Laing, Craig Savill Grande Prairie, Alberta $100,000
2010 Alberta Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert Newfoundland and Labrador Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Ryan Fry, Jamie Korab Dawson Creek, British Columbia $100,000
2011 Alberta Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert Sweden Niklas Edin, Sebastian Kraupp, Fredrik Lindberg, Viktor Kjäll Grande Prairie, Alberta $100,000
2012 Ontario John Epping, Scott Bailey, Scott Howard, David Mathers Ontario Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Brent Laing, Craig Savill Summerside, Prince Edward Island $100,000
2013 Ontario Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Brent Laing, Craig Savill Manitoba Mike McEwen, B. J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, Denni Neufeld Toronto, Ontario $100,000
2014 Alberta Kevin Martin, Marc Kennedy, David Nedohin, Ben Hebert Ontario Brad Jacobs, Ryan Fry, E. J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden Summerside, Prince Edward Island $100,000
2015 Ontario Brad Jacobs, Ryan Fry, E. J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden Manitoba Mike McEwen, B. J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, Denni Neufeld Toronto, Ontario $100,000
2016 Newfoundland and Labrador Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker Ontario Brad Jacobs, Ryan Fry, E. J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden Toronto, Ontario $100,000
2017 Sweden Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren Manitoba Mike McEwen, B. J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, Denni Neufeld Toronto, Ontario $150,000
2018 Alberta Kevin Koe, Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing, Ben Hebert Sweden Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren Toronto, Ontario $150,000
2019 Alberta Brendan Bottcher, Darren Moulding, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin Alberta Kevin Koe, B. J. Neufeld, Colton Flasch, Ben Hebert Toronto, Ontario $150,000
2020 Cancelled[6]
2021 Scotland Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan Jr. Newfoundland and Labrador Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker Calgary, Alberta[21] $175,000
2022 Scotland Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan Jr. Sweden Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå (3 player team) Toronto, Ontario $175,000
2023 Alberta Kevin Koe, Tyler Tardi, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin Switzerland Benoît Schwarz (Fourth), Yannick Schwaller (Skip), Sven Michel, Pablo Lachat Toronto, Ontario $175,000

Women

Year Winning team Runner-up team Location Purse
2006 Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer, Georgina Wheatcroft Alberta Cheryl Bernard, Susan O'Connor, Carolyn Darbyshire, Cori Bartel Calgary, Alberta $100,000[20]
2007 Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer, Dawn Askin British Columbia Kelly Scott, Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter, Renee Simons Calgary, Alberta $100,000
2008 Saskatchewan Amber Holland, Kim Schneider, Tammy Schneider, Heather Seeley Ontario Krista McCarville, Tara George, Kari MacLean-Kraft, Lorraine Lang St. John's, Newfoundland $100,000
2009 Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer, Dawn Askin Alberta Shannon Kleibrink, Amy Nixon, Bronwen Webster, Chelsey Bell Grande Prairie, Alberta $100,000
2010 Alberta Cheryl Bernard, Susan O'Connor, Carolyn Darbyshire, Cori Bartel Alberta Crystal Webster, Lori Olson-Johns, Samantha Preston, Stephanie Malekoff Dawson Creek, British Columbia $100,000
2011 Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn Askin Ontario Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Alison Kreviazuk, Lisa Weagle Grande Prairie, Alberta $100,000
2012 Saskatchewan Stefanie Lawton, Sherry Anderson, Sherri Singler, Marliese Kasner Manitoba Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jenna Loder, Ashley Howard, Breanne Meakin Summerside, Prince Edward Island $100,000
2013 Scotland Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Claire Hamilton Sweden Margaretha Sigfridsson, Maria Prytz, Christina Bertrup, Maria Wennerström Toronto, Ontario $100,000
2014 Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen Ontario Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Alison Kreviazuk, Lisa Weagle Summerside, Prince Edward Island $100,000
2015 Scotland Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Sarah Reid Russia Anna Sidorova, Margarita Fomina, Alexandra Saitova, Ekaterina Galkina Toronto, Ontario $100,000
2016 Scotland Eve Muirhead, Cathy Overton-Clapham, Vicki Adams, Sarah Reid Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen Toronto, Ontario $100,000
2017 Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen Alberta Val Sweeting, Lori Olson-Johns, Dana Ferguson, Rachelle Brown Toronto, Ontario $150,000
2018 United States Jamie Sinclair, Alex Carlson, Vicky Persinger, Monica Walker Manitoba Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen Toronto, Ontario $150,000
2019 Manitoba Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Briane Meilleur Sweden Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs Toronto, Ontario $150,000
2020 Cancelled[6]
2021 Manitoba Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Briane Meilleur Ontario Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Sarah Wilkes, Joanne Courtney Calgary, Alberta[21] $175,000
2022 Sweden Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs Manitoba Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Briane Meilleur Toronto, Ontario $175,000
2023 Sweden Isabella Wranå, Almida de Val, Maria Larsson, Linda Stenlund Switzerland Alina Pätz (Fourth), Silvana Tirinzoni (Skip), Carole Howald, Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann Toronto, Ontario $175,000

References

  1. ^ "Gushue, Homan headline field for Players' Championship". www.thegrandslamofcurling.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-23.
  2. ^ "8 Ends: Players' Championship set for special 25th anniversary". www.thegrandslamofcurling.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-15.
  3. ^ a b "WCT title 'spiel at crossroads". Regina Leader-Post. March 30, 1995. p. C5. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "World Curling Tour on verge of big break". Edmonton Journal. December 9, 1995. p. D5. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "About the Players' Championship - Grand Slam of Curling". www.thegrandslamofcurling.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-11.
  6. ^ a b c "GSOC cancels remaining events of 2019–20 season". Grand Slam of Curling. Grand Slam of Curling. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "Qualification for the Players' Championship - Grand Slam of Curling". www.thegrandslamofcurling.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-11.
  8. ^ "Format and Qualification".
  9. ^ "Format for the Players' Championship - Grand Slam of Curling". www.thegrandslamofcurling.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-11.
  10. ^ "Savage en route again to championship battle". Calgary Herald. February 21, 1993. p. F1. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "Icy Jackpot". Calgary Herald. February 22, 1993. p. C1. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "Rivalry Takes Road". Calgary Herald. March 26, 1994. p. C4. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  13. ^ "Howard heading off to Olympic trials". Regina Leader-Post. March 24, 1997. p. F2. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Local Scene". Regina Leader-Post. March 21, 1997. p. C4. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "Peters positive". Winnipeg Sun. March 30, 1998. p. 42. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  16. ^ "Martin wins World Tour championship". Red Deer Advocate. March 30, 1998. p. A8. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  17. ^ "B.C.'s trio has just one win after four draws". Vancouver Sun. March 18, 1999. p. F5. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  18. ^ "Top guns shot down at world curling tourney". Edmonton Journal. March 18, 2000. p. D5. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "In the hack..." Calgary Herald. March 21, 2001. p. E5. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Players' Championship title toughest to get your hands on". Calgary Herald. April 13, 2006. p. F3. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Brazeau, Jonathan (December 3, 2020). "GSOC looking to hold 2 events in proposed Calgary curling bubble". Retrieved December 3, 2020.
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