News Masters

A Battle of Alberta between Edmonton’s Val Sweeting and Casey Scheidegger of Lethbridge will kick off the Masters, the second event and first major of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season.

The series announced Tuesday the draw schedule for the tournament running Oct. 24-29 at Centennial Civic Centre in Lloydminster, Sask.

Sweeting started the season winning her third career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title at the Tour Challenge Tier 1 last month in Regina.

The opening draw also features a rematch of the 2013 Olympic Trials final between Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., and gold medallist Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg.

American Jamie Sinclair meets Russia’s Anna Sidorova and Jacqueline Harrison of Mississauga, Ont., goes up against Alina Paetz of Switzerland to round out the opener.

Reigning world champions Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., and Ottawa’s Rachel Homan will both be in action for the evening draw on Day 1.

Homan faces Winnipeg’s Michelle Englot in a rematch of this year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts final while Gushue, who won the Tour Challenge Tier 1 men’s title, goes up against Scotland’s Kyle Smith.

Meanwhile, Calgary’s Kevin Koe takes on Jason Gunnlaugson of Winnipeg, Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock plays former skip Pat Simmons and his new squad from Winnipeg and American John Shuster meets Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen.

The Masters features 15 of the top men’s teams and 15 of the top women’s teams from around the world. Gunnlaugson and Kerri Einarson, also of Winnipeg, qualified after winning the Tour Challenge Tier 2 titles.

Teams play four round-robin games each with the top eight overall advancing to the weekend playoffs. The winning teams of the Masters qualify for the season-ending Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournament, the Humpty’s Champions Cup, running April 24-29, 2018, at Calgary’s WinSport Arena.

Teams also earn points towards the Bonus Cup, awarded to the overall season champions following the conclusion of the Players’ Championship. The Bonus Cup winning teams receive $75,000 each in bonus prize money.

Full event and weekend passes plus single draw tickets are now available for the Masters, visit Lloydgsoc.goigniter.com or call 306-825-5161 to purchase today.