News Masters

Reid Carruthers in action at the 2015 Meridian Canadian Open in Yorkton, Sask. (Anil Mungal)

Eight Ends: Final tune-up for the WFG Masters

Business is about to pick up big time on tour with the start of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season just around the corner.

The WFG Masters begins in exactly one week just outside of Calgary in Okotoks, Alta., at Pason Centennial Arena. This will be the first major test of the year for the elite ranks bringing together 15 of the top men’s teams and 15 of the top women’s teams from around the world.

Most of them either hit the ice this past weekend or are planning to squeeze in one more tournament this week before flying out to YYC. All teams should be fine-tuned and ready to roll by the time the WFG Masters gets underway next Tuesday and fans will not want to miss this event.

1st End: Carruthers claims Canad Inns title

Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers captured the Canad Inns Men’s Classic title Monday night in Portage la Prairie, Man.

Carruthers scored three sets of deuces to defeat Edmonton’s Charley Thomas 6-5 in the final.

It was a grind for Carruthers and Thomas as they both qualified for the playoffs via the C-side of the triple knockout. Carruthers topped Kevin Koe and Shaun Meachem to reach the final while Thomas defeated Brad Jacobs and Steve Laycock.

Team Carruthers earned 67.039 points towards the World Curling Tour’s Order of Merit and moved up two spots into third place on the total rankings. Team Thomas gained 52.674 points to climb four spots into ninth overall.

2nd End: Humpty’s Champions Cup spot denied?

Carruthers is also playing a bit of the spoiler role on tour having already earned his Humpty’s Champions Cup invite as last season’s event winner.

A handful of tour events are eligible for invites to the season-ending Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournament based on the strength of field multiplier. The Canad Inns Men’s Classic featured a 9.5770 SFM, ranking it second (so far) among tour events.

Considering Laycock qualified for last year’s Humpty’s Champions Cup by winning in Portage, it’s a sure bet teams were looking to bank an invite. However, with Carruthers’ victory this one gets scratched off the list altogether.

The tour events eligible for Humpty’ Champions Cup spots will not be finalized until Feb. 1, so the battle for those berths is far from over.

3rd End: Rundown of the European Championship playdowns

It’ll be double Muirheads on home ice at the European Championships running Nov. 19-26 in Scotland.

Eve Muirhead swept Hannah Fleming 3-0 in the best-of-five series for the Scottish women’s berth. Older brother Glen Muirhead, playing third for Tom Brewster, helped his team defeat David Murdoch in straight sets during the men’s final. The Scottish men’s playdowns featured a double round-robin portion between Brewster, Murdoch and Kyle Smith followed by a best-of-three final among the top two teams.

Reigning world champ Binia Feltscher will represent Switzerland defeating Alina Paetz 4-2 in their best-of-seven series. Peter de Cruz is also heading over for the Swiss side beating Marc Pfister 4-1 in the best-of-seven men’s playdowns.

Russia’s Anna Sidorova will not defend the European Championships women’s title as she fell to Victoria Moiseeva.

4th End: Mixed doubles action in Alberta

Saskatchewan’s Marliese Kasner and Dustin Kalthoff captured the Service Experts Mixed Doubles Classic in Sherwood Park, Alta., defeating reigning Canadian champions Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant 6-4 in Sunday’s final.

Kasner and Kalthoff were semifinalists at nationals last season and — due to teams declining — they represented Canada at the world mixed doubles championship where they finished fifth.

5th End: Week 9 tour recap

Dean Joanisse’s B.C. team claimed the Hub International Crown of Curling title in Kamloops stealing two points in an extra end to top SooHyuk Kim of South Korea 6-4 in Monday’s final. Junior-aged Min Ji Kim of South Korea beat Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa 6-3 for the women’s title.

Julie Tippin captured the Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel in Ontario defeating Toronto’s Megan Balsdon 8-6 in Monday’s final. Chad Allen, skipping Team Tuck of Brantford, earned the men’s title with a 7-5 extra end win over Ottawa’s Colin Dow.

Beth Peterson edged Darcy Robertson 7-6 for the Atkins Curling Supplies Classic on home ice in an all-Winnipeg team final Monday.

Edmonton’s Glen Hansen picked up his second tour title of the season defeating double defending champ Aaron Sluchinski 8-6 to take the McKee Homes Fall Curling Classic in Airdrie, Alta.

6th End: Coming up this week on tour

It’s now the top-ranked women’s teams turn in Portage for the Canad Inns Women’s Classic. The 32-team field includes Ottawa’s Rachel Homan, Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones, Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland, Winnipeg’s Kerri Einarson, Tracy Fleury of Sudbury, Ont., and Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg. EunJung Kim of South Korea is the reigning champion.

Meanwhile, the Challenge de Curling de Gatineau in Gatineau, Que., features Toronto’s John Epping and defending champ Brad Gushue of St. John’s among the 32-team field.

Elsewhere, the Medicine Hat Charity Classic is on in Alberta, the Lady Monctonian Invitational Spiel runs in Moncton, N.B., and the Curling Masters Champery, part of the Curling Champions Tour series, takes place in Switzerland

7th End: One week to the WFG Masters

This time next week we’ll be on the ground in Okotoks, Alta., kicking off the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season with the opening draw of the WFG Masters.

Don’t miss out on this must-see event at Pason Centennial Arena. Tickets are still available, visit thegrandslamofcurling.com/tickets for details.

Can’t make it to Okotoks? Sportsnet will have you covered, visit thegrandslamofcurling/com/tv-schedule for our full broadcast schedule.

8th End: Tour Challenge Tuesdays

We’re also three weeks away from the second Pinty’s GSOC event of the season, the Tour Challenge, running Nov. 8-13 in Cranbrook, B.C.

All 60 teams are set for the largest tournament on the Pinty’s GSOC calendar. Click here for the full roster rundown.

Jan. 14-19, 2025 Sleeman Centre Guelph, ON