News Champions Cup

CALGARY — Brad Gushue has cleared the list.

Gushue captured the only Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling top-tier title he hadn’t won previously on Sunday by defeating Glenn Howard 8-2 in the Humpty’s Champions Cup men’s final.

The team of Gushue, third Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker cashed in $40,000 and a berth back in next season’s Humpty’s Champions Cup.

It was Gushue’s 10th championship overall in the series and third this year as they also collected the $75,000 Bonus Cup.

Here’s how it all went down:

1ST END (2:19 p.m. MT): Gushue opened with the hammer and it was just a fly by on his last through an empty house to retain the hammer. GUSHUE 0, HOWARD 0

2ND END (2:35 p.m. MT): Vintage Howard! The wizard of winter (and now spring) fired a runback to remove Gushue’s shot rock and promote his own into the eight-foot circle partially covered. Gushue was unable to eliminate it, rubbing and rolling to give up a point. HOWARD 1, GUSHUE 0

3RD END (2:57 p.m. MT): Excuse me, coming through. Howard made the come-around draw to squeeze between two Gushue stones and land on the button. Gushue tapped his own back to nestle on top and out came the measuring stick. After a couple looks at it, Gushue’s stone was just a hair closer to the pinhole. HOWARD 1, GUSHUE 1

4TH END (3:11 p.m. MT): More thievery as the plot thickened. Howard hit and rolled off through the crowded house to give up a steal and the lead. GUSHUE 2, HOWARD 1

5TH END (3:34 p.m. MT): Pin for a point. With Gushue sitting two biting the button, Howard had to cover the pinhole for a single and sweepers Scott Howard and David Mathers brushed it right on target. GUSHUE 2, HOWARD 2

6TH END (3:53 p.m. MT): A bad break for Howard, with his last hooking right on top of the guards, opened the gate for Gushue to grab a three count. GUSHUE 5, HOWARD 2

7TH END (4:15 p.m. MT): Talk about pressure. Gushue poured it on sitting four, including two in the four-foot circle. Howard opted for an angle raise but resulted in a three-steal for Gushue and handshakes. GUSHUE 8, HOWARD 2

NOTES: The Humpty’s Champions Cup was the season finale Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournament. … Teams had to win an event over the course of the season in order to receive an invitation. … Earlier, Ottawa’s Rachel Homan defeated Winnipeg’s Kerri Einarson 7-6 to successfully defend the women’s title. … The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling returns for 2018-19 with the Princess Auto Elite 10, Sept. 26-30, in Chatham, Ont.