Grand Slam of Curling explained

Grand Slam of Curling
Label1:Established
Data1:2001–02 (Men's)
2006–07 (Women's)
Label2:2022–23 season champions
Data2: Brad Gushue (Men's)
Kerri Einarson (Women's)-->

The Grand Slam of Curling (formerly branded as the Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling for sponsorship reasons) is a series of curling bonspiels that were formerly part of the annual World Curling Tour. Grand Slam events offer a purse of at least CAD$100,000, and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the World. The Grand Slam was instituted during the 2001–02 season for men and 2006–07 for women (with the 2006 Players' Championship also considered a Slam),[1] but some of the Grand Slam events have longer histories as bonspiels.

The Grand Slam season consists of five men's and women's events. The original four events (Masters, Open, National, and Players' Championship) are considered to be "majors".[2] The other slam (Tour Challenge) has a unique format that sets it apart from other events in the series.

History

In 2001, many male curlers were upset with the Canadian Curling Association (CCA). Their complaints included the long length of the curling season, not getting any prize money at the Brier, the national men's curling championship, which generated millions for the CCA, and the inability to have sponsors at the Brier.[3] Eighteen of the top twenty men's teams in the country, known as the "Original 18", agreed to boycott the Brier from 2001 to 2003 and created the Grand Slam of Curling.[4] The original 18 skips were Dave Boehmer, Kerry Burtnyk, Pierre Charette, Glen Despins, Dale Duguid, Bert Gretzinger, Glenn Howard, Bruce Korte, Allan Lyburn, William Lyburn, Kevin Martin, Greg McAulay, Wayne Middaugh, Kevin Park, Brent Pierce, Vic Peters, Peter Steski and Jeff Stoughton.[5]

The Grand Slam of Curling began in the 2001–02 curling season with four events: the Canadian Open, Masters, National, and Players' Championship, the four "majors".[6]

After the merger of the Women's Tour and the WCT, the 2006 Players' Championship featured a women's event for the first time, and was considered a Slam for the women too. In the 2006–07 curling season, several existing women's events were designated as Grand Slams, but were not operated by the Grand Slam of Curling.[7] Grand Slam games also got reduced to eight ends that season.

In 2012, the Grand Slam of Curling was acquired by Rogers Media via its Sportsnet subsidiary. As such, Sportsnet became the main media rightsholder of the series, although CBC Sports would still carry championship rounds of selected events.[8] [9] [10]

In 2017, Yare TV began broadcasting online streams of the Grand Slams, opening up access to fans outside of Canada.[11]

Under this new ownership, the separate women's Grand Slams were phased out, with women's divisions added to existing men's Grand Slams. New Grand Slam events were also added: the Elite 10 in the 2014–15 curling season and the Tour Challenge and Champions Cup in the 2015–16 curling season. A women's division was added to the Elite 10 in the 2018–19 curling season, achieving for the first time equal number of events, prize money, and television time for men and women.[7] The Elite 10 was dropped the next season, bringing the number of events to six.

The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the remaining two slams of the 2019-20 curling season and all but the remaining two slams of the 2020–21 curling season. The 2020–21 season was supposed to include the first international Grand Slam, the Canadian Open (renamed to the Open) to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States,[12] but that too was cancelled along with the Tour Challenge that season. The Slam tour was back to normal for the 2022–23 season with six events, however it would be the last season for the Champions Cup which was discontinued.

In April 2024, it was announced that a consortium known as The Curling Group had acquired the Grand Slam of Curling. The group includes Jennifer Jones, John Morris and former American football player-turned curler Jared Allen, and Marc Bulger. Sportsnet will remain the Canadian broadcaster of the tour under a multi-year agreement of unspecified length.[13]

Current Grand Slams

Tour Challenge

See main article: Tour Challenge. The GSOC Tour Challenge was introduced as a men's and women's event in the 2015–16 curling season. The Tour Challenge has two tiers, with the bottom tier including regional invitations. The Tier 2 winning team qualifies for a subsequent grand slam.

ChampionsThe winning skip for Tier 1 is listed above the Tier 2 winning skip.
Year Men's winning skip Women's winning skip Location
Kevin KoeParadise, Newfoundland and Labrador
Jim Cotter Kerri Einarson
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Greg Balsdon Jacqueline Harrison
Regina, Saskatchewan
Jason Gunnlaugson Kerri Einarson
Brad Jacobs Rachel HomanThunder Bay, Ontario
Kirk Muyres Elena Stern
2019 Brad Jacobs Anna HasselborgWestville Road, Nova Scotia
Korey Dropkin Kim Min-ji
2020 CancelledGrande Prairie, Alberta
2021 Cancelled Grande Prairie, Alberta
2022 Niklas Edin Tracy FleuryGrande Prairie, Alberta
Korey Dropkin Clancy Grandy
2023 Joël Retornaz Jennifer JonesNiagara Falls, Ontario
Daniel Casper Kim Eun-jung
2024Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

National

See main article: National (curling). The National was introduced as a men's event in 2002, and was added to the women's side in 2015.

Champions
Year Men's winning skip Women's winning skip Location
2002 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Humboldt, Saskatchewan
2004 (Nov.)1 Hamilton, Ontario
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Quebec City, Quebec
Guelph, Ontario
Vernon, British Columbia
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Fort McMurray, Alberta
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador
2020 CancelledChestermere, Alberta
Chestermere, Alberta
North Bay, Ontario
Westville Road, Nova Scotia
2024
1 There was no National in the 2004–2005 season, but the BDO Curling Classic was held. It returned to its original name in the 2005–2006 season. The words "BDO Classic" were added to the name of the Canadian Open.

Masters

See main article: Masters (curling). The Masters was introduced as a men's event 2002, and was added to the women's side in 2012.

Champions
Year Men's winning skip Women's winning skip Location
2002 Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
2003 (Jan) Sudbury, Ontario
Humboldt, Saskatchewan
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Waterloo, Ontario
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Waterloo, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Selkirk, Manitoba
Truro, Nova Scotia
Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
Truro, Nova Scotia
North Bay, Ontario
2020 Cancelled[14] Sarnia, Ontario[15]
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville, Ontario[16]
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2025 Guelph, Ontario

Canadian Open

See main article: Canadian Open (curling). The Canadian Open was introduced as a men's event in 2001, and was added to the women's side in 2014. The Canadian Open is the only Grand Slam that uses a triple knockout format.

Champions
Year Men's winning skip Women's winning skip Location
Wainwright, Alberta
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Brandon, Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Quebec City, Quebec
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Kelowna, British Columbia
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Yorkton, Saskatchewan
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Yorkton, Saskatchewan
2021 CancelledLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
2022 Cancelled Camrose, Alberta
Camrose, Alberta
Red Deer, Alberta
2024 (Nov.) Nisku, Alberta

Players' Championship

See main article: Players' Championship. The Players' Championship, the oldest tournament on the men's Grand Slam of Curling, was introduced as a men's event in 1993, and added to the women's side in 2006.

Champions
Year Men's winning skip Women's winning skip Location
Calgary, Alberta
1994 Calgary, Alberta
1995 (Apr.) Selkirk, Manitoba
1995 (Dec.) Jasper, Alberta
1997 Winnipeg, Manitoba
1998 Fort McMurray, Alberta
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Calgary, Alberta
Strathroy, Ontario
Leduc, Alberta
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Toronto, Ontario
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Cancelled[17] Toronto, Ontario
Calgary, Alberta[18]
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario

Statistics: Grand Slams won

This is a list of Grand Slam events won per player, including Players' Championships won prior to the creation of the Grand Slam.

[19]

Men

Colour! scope="col"
Explanation
Player currently active on the WCT

As of the 2024 Players' Championship; Minimum 2 wins

Player Total
0 1 4 5 0 8 0 18
2 0 3 5 0 6 1 17
0 6 4 2 0 4 0 16
1 7 3 2 0 3 0 16
1 2 5 2 2 2 2 16
0 3 4 2 0 6 0 15
1 2 4 2 2 2 2 15
1 2 2 3 2 1 3 14
1 0 3 4 0 5 1 14
1 2 3 2 2 2 2 14
0 7 2 2 0 2 0 13
0 0 3 3 1 4 0 11
0 1 2 1 0 5 0 9
2 0 3 1 0 2 1 9
0 4 2 1 0 1 0 8
0 2 1 3 0 2 0 8
0 2 1 2 2 0 0 7
0 2 1 2 2 0 0 7
0 2 1 2 2 0 0 7
0 1 1 2 0 3 0 7
0 1 1 2 0 3 0 7
0 2 1 2 2 0 0 7
2 0 2 1 0 1 1 7
2 0 2 1 0 1 1 7
1 1 0 1 0 3 0 6
0 1 1 1 0 2 1 6
0 1 1 1 0 2 1 6
0 1 1 1 0 2 1 6
0 1 1 1 0 2 1 6
0 1 0 1 0 4 0 6
0 0 0 2 0 1 2 5
1 0 2 0 0 1 1 5
0 1 2 1 0 1 0 5
0 0 0 1 0 4 0 5
2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4
2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4
2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4
2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4
1 2 1 0 0 0 0 4
1 2 1 0 0 0 0 4
1 2 1 0 0 0 0 4
1 2 1 0 0 0 0 4
0 1 1 1 0 1 0 4
0 0 0 1 0 2 1 4
0 0 0 1 0 2 1 4
0 1 0 0 0 3 0 4
0 1 1 1 0 1 0 4
0 1 0 0 0 3 0 4
0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3
0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3
0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3
0 1 0 1 0 1 0 3
0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2
0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2
0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2
0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2
0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2
0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2

Women

Colour! scope="col"
Explanation
Player currently active on the WCT

As of the 2024 Players' Championship; Minimum 2 wins

Player AGML&LCSElite 10Mast.CCSobey'sWTTotal
3 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 6 1 1 1 17
3 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 6 1 1 1 16
3 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 5 1 1 1 15
0 0 0 0 4 2 2 3 0 4 0 0 15
0 0 0 0 4 2 2 3 0 4 0 0 15
0 0 0 0 3 1 2 2 0 2 0 0 10
1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 3 1 1 0 10
3 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 10
0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 2 0 0 8
0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 7
0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 7
0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 7
0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 7
0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 7
0 0 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 6
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 6
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 6
0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 5
0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 5
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 5
0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 4
0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4
0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4
0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4
0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 4
0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 4
0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Note: Totals do not include wins prior to the first Grand Slam season of 2006–07, excepting the Players'.

Former Grand Slams

Sobeys Slam

See main article: Sobeys Slam. The Sobeys Slam was held as a Grand Slam event on three occasions in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

Champions
Year Winning skip
Sherry Middaugh
Marie-France Larouche
2009 Not held
Jennifer Jones

Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic

See main article: Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic. The Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic was held annually in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and was held nine times before it was discontinued.

Champions
Year Winning skip
2000 Shannon Kleibrink
2001 Shannon Kleibrink
2002 Kelly Scott
2003 Kelly Scott
2004 Kelley Law
2005 Janet Harvey
2006 Stefanie Lawton
2007
2008

Manitoba Lotteries Women's Curling Classic

See main article: Canad Inns Women's Classic. The Manitoba Women's Curling Classic was held in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and was held eight times as a Grand Slam tournament. It was removed from the Grand Slam lineup starting in the 2014–15 curling season.

Champions
Year Winning skip Runner-up skip
2004 Shannon Kleibrink
2005 Shannon Kleibrink
2006 Jennifer Jones
2007 Jennifer Jones
Kelly Scott
Jennifer Jones
Cathy Overton-Clapham
Heather Nedohin
Rachel Homan
Jill Thurston

Curlers' Corner Autumn Gold Curling Classic

See main article: Autumn Gold Curling Classic. The Autumn Gold Curling Classic is held annually in Calgary, Alberta, and has been held 42 times (as of 2019). It offers a total purse of $50,000. It was removed from the Grand Slam lineup starting in the 2015–16 curling season.

Year Winning skip Runner-up skip
1978 Marj Mitchell
1979 Susan Seitz
1980 Joan Hart
1981 Linda Saunders
1982 Kathy Fahlman
1983 Judy Lukowich
1984 Merilyn Cheyne
1985 Sandy Turner
1986 Kathy Fahlman
1987 Sandra Risebrough
1988 Carol Davis
1989 Sandy Turner
1990 Linda Wild
1991 Diane Foster
1992 Deb Santos
1993 Glenys Bakker
1994
1995 Glenys Bakker
1996 Kelley Owen
1997 Cheryl Kullman
1998 Amber Holland
1999 Bronwen Saunders
2000 Shannon Kleibrink
2001 Cheryl Bernard
2002 Cheryl Bernard
2003 Cathy King
2004 Cheryl Bernard
2005 Jan Betker
Crystal Webster
Shannon Kleibrink
Cheryl Bernard
Wang Bingyu
Desirée Owen
Amy Nixon
Rachel Homan
Wang Bingyu

Colonial Square Ladies Classic

See main article: Colonial Square Ladies Classic. The Colonial Square Ladies Classic is held annually in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and has been held since 1983. It officially became a Grand Slam event in 2012. It was removed from the Grand Slam lineup starting in the 2015–16 curling season.

Year Winning skip Runner-up skip
1983 Marilyn Bodogh
1984 (Mar) Nancy Kerr
1984 (Nov) Connie Laliberte
1985 Cordella Schwengler
1986 Merle Kopach
1987 Heather MacMillan
1988 Andrea Schöpp
1989 Carolyn Revet
1990 Deb Shermack
1991 Connie Fennell
1992 Karen Fallis
1993 Karen Powell
1994 Sherry Anderson
1995 Michelle Schneider
1996 Sherry Scheirich
1997 Kim Hodson
1998 Amber Holland
1999 Atina Ford
2000 Heather Fowlie
2001 Susan Altman
2002 Nancy Inglis
2003 Nancy Inglis
2004 Renée Sonnenberg
2005 Candace Chisholm
2006 Karen Purdy
2007 Cathy King
2008 Michelle Englot
2009 Mirjam Ott
2010 Jennifer Jones
Val Sweeting
Chelsea Carey
Michèle Jäggi
Sherry Middaugh

Elite 10

See main article: Elite 10. The Elite 10 was introduced as a men's event in 2015, and added to the women's side in September 2018. The Elite 10 used a unique match play format, similar to skins curling. The event was dropped for the 2019–20 curling season.

Champions
Year Men's winning skip Women's winning skip Location
Fort McMurray, Alberta
Colwood, British Columbia
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Chatham, Ontario

Champions Cup

See main article: Champions Cup (curling). The Champions Cup was introduced as a men's and women's event in the 2015–16 curling season. The Champions Cup is contested by champions of various Grand Slam, Season of Champions, World Curling Tour, and other events throughout the season. The event will not be held in 2024, as it has been put on hold.

Champions
Year Men's winning skip Women's winning skip Location
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Cancelled Olds, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta
Olds, Alberta
Regina, Saskatchewan

Grand Slam season champions

Beginning with the 2008–09 season, at the end of the season, the top Grand Slam team is awarded a cup as champions of the season. It was originally called the "Capital One Cup", with the winning team awarded $50,000.[20] It became the "Rogers Grand Slam Cup" in 2012 with the winning team given $75,000, then it became the "Bonus Cup" for the 2017–18 season, and then the "Pinty's Cup" in 2018–19, and had that name until 2022. Teams accumulate points based on their performance in each of the slams except for the Champions Cup and Tour Challenge Tier 2.[21] [22]

Season[23] Men's winning skip Women's winning skip
Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones
Cathy Overton-Clapham
Eve Muirhead
Jennifer Jones
Eve Muirhead
Rachel Homan
Val Sweeting
Jennifer Jones
Rachel Homan
Anna Hasselborg
Anna Hasselborg
Kerri Einarson

Notes and References

  1. News: Sweeping up some big bucks!. April 10, 2006. D2. Calgary Herald. April 23, 2021.
  2. Web site: Gushue, Homan headline field for Players' Championship . 2017-03-22 . 2017-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170323230711/http://www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/curling/playerschampionship/gushue-homan-headline-field-for-players-championship/ . dead .
  3. Web site: The history of curling's Grand Slams. March 19, 2015. Sportsnet. November 1, 2018.
  4. News: Bruce Korte, an Original 18, reflects on history of Grand Slam of Curling. Hanna. Claire. January 8, 2017. Global News. November 1, 2018.
  5. Web site: Nolan's Notes: The story of the Original 18. 13 November 2014.
  6. Web site: About the Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling. Grand Slam of Curling. November 1, 2018.
  7. News: Weagle: GSOC brings women's game to new level. Weagle. Lisa. October 23, 2018. Grand Slam of Curling. November 1, 2018.
  8. Web site: Sportsnet new owner of Grand Slam curling. 30 August 2012. The Curling News.
  9. Web site: BREAKING: Sportsnet, CBC back on curling ice. 29 August 2012. The Curling News.
  10. Web site: Grand Slam of Curling returns to CBC. 30 August 2012. CBC Sports.
  11. Web site: Watch GSOC online at YareTV. 21 September 2017.
  12. Web site: Dates, locations announced for 2020-21 GSOC season. February 20, 2020. Grand Slam of Curling. February 20, 2020.
  13. Web site: Novy-Williams . Eben . 2024-04-09 . Grand Slam of Curling Sold in Bid to Make Over Olympic Sport . 2024-04-12 . Sportico.com . en-US.
  14. News: Grand Slam curling circuit forced to drop 4 events because of COVID-19 pandemic. CBC.ca. CBC. July 8, 2020. July 8, 2020.
  15. Web site: GSOC heading to Sarnia-Lambton for 2020 Masters - the Grand Slam of Curling . 2019-12-12 . 2019-12-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191212160951/https://thegrandslamofcurling.com/gsoc-heading-to-sarnia-lambton-for-2020-masters/ . dead .
  16. News: GSOC unveils 2022-23 season schedule. Grand Slam of Curling. February 23, 2022. February 23, 2022.
  17. News: GSOC cancels remaining events of 2019–20 season. Grand Slam of Curling. March 13, 2020. March 13, 2020.
  18. Web site: Brazeau. Jonathan. GSOC looking to hold 2 events in proposed Calgary curling bubble . December 3, 2020 . December 3, 2020.
  19. Web site: Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling records - Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling . 2015-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150226171115/http://www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/curling/grand-slam-of-curling-records/ . 2015-02-26 . dead .
  20. News: Bonus for Grand Slam curlers. November 11, 2008. B6. Edmonton Journal. September 20, 2023.
  21. Web site: Rogers Grand Slam Cup chase wraps up at Players' Championship. 7 April 2017.
  22. Web site: 2018-19 Pinty's Cup standings . 2018-10-02 . 2018-10-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181002065158/http://www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/curling/2018-19-pintys-cup-standings/ . dead .
  23. Web site: Season Championship . 2023-09-20 . 2023-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230626191124/https://thegrandslamofcurling.com/season-championship/ . dead .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Grand Slam of Curling".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.