News Tour Challenge

The field is now complete for the Tier 1 group of the inaugural Tour Challenge, the opening event of the 2015-15 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season, running Sept. 8-13 in Paradise, N.L.

Headlining the men’s division is Newfoundland’s own Team Brad Gushue, who captured two Grand Slam titles this past season taking home the Masters and Canadian Open. The 15-team division also includes defending Rogers Grand Slam Cup champions Team Brad Jacobs, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The women’s field includes reigning Rogers Grand Slam Cup champions Team Eve Muirhead of Scotland, Olympic gold medallists Team Jennifer Jones from Winnipeg and two-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts winners Team Rachel Homan of Ottawa, among others.

A total of 30 men’s and 30 women’s teams will compete in the Tour Challenge with each division divided into two tiers.

The top 15 teams ranked on the World Curling Tour’s order of merit (OOM) as of July 1 were invited to compete in the Tier I group (in the event any team declines their spot, the next ranked team on the OOM list is invited until the group is complete).

Winners of the Tier 1 group also receive invites to the second of two new Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling events, the season-ending Champions Cup, featuring winners from select curling tournaments.

For Tier 2, 10 additional teams beyond the Tier I group were invited based on their OOM rankings plus an additional five spots reserved for teams from within the province or region of the event’s location. The Tier 2 teams and schedule will be announced at a future date.

Here are the teams set to compete in the Tour Challenge Tier 1 group:

MEN’S DIVISION

WOMEN’S DIVISION