Teams set for Canadian Open in North Battleford
The world’s best curling teams will kick off the New Year, Slam style.
The field has been finalized for the Meridian Canadian Open taking place Jan. 8-13, 2019, at the Civic Centre in North Battleford, Sask.
Sixteen men’s teams and 16 women’s teams will compete in the fifth event and third major of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. Both divisions feature:
– 7 teams from the World Curling Tour’s Order of Merit rankings as of Dec. 3.
– 7 teams from the World Curling Tour’s Year-To-Date rankings as of Dec. 3.
– 1 sponsor’s exemption.
– 1 Tour Challenge Tier 2 winner.
Saskatoon’s Team Kirk Muyres and Team Elena Stern of Switzerland earned their spots by capturing the Tour Challenge Tier 2 titles in Thunder Bay, Ont., in November. Back-to-back provincial junior men’s champions Team Rylan Kleiter from Saskatoon and North Battleford’s own Team Robyn Silvernagle received the sponsor’s exemption spots.
The Meridian Canadian Open is one of the original four events in the series and kicked off the Grand Slam era in 2001. Originally a men’s invitational, a women’s division was added to the Meridian Canadian Open in 2014. Team Peter de Cruz of Switzerland and Calgary’s Team Chelsea Carey enter as the defending champions capturing their first Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling titles a year ago in Camrose, Alta.
Teams will compete in a triple knockout preliminary round to determine the eight teams for the playoffs. Teams must win three games before they lose three in order to qualify.
Winners of the Meridian Canadian Open earn $30,000 from the $250,000 total purse plus berths to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup. Points are also on the line for the Pinty’s Cup, which is awarded to the overall season champions following the conclusion of the Players’ Championship.
Full-event and weekend passes plus individual draw tickets are now available at 2019canadianopen.goigniter.com.
Broadcast coverage begins Jan. 10 on Sportsnet with online streaming available at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).
