Grand Slam of Curling


The Grand Slam of Curling is a series of curling bonspiels that are a part of the annual World Curling Tour. Grand Slam events offer a purse of at least CAD$100,000, and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the World. The Grand Slam was instituted during the 2001–02 season for men and 2006–07 for women, but some of the Grand Slam events have longer histories as bonspiels.
The Grand Slam season consists of six men's and women's events. The original four events are considered to be "majors". The other two slams have unique formats that set them apart from other events on the World Curling Tour.

History

In 2001, many curlers were upset with the Canadian Curling Association. Their complaints included the long curling season, not getting any prize money at the Brier, the national men's curling championship, which generated millions for the CCA, and the inability to have sponsors at the Brier. Eighteen of the top twenty curling teams, known as the "Original 18", agreed to boycott the Brier from 2001 to 2003 and created the Grand Slam of Curling. The original 18 skips were Dave Boehmer, Kerry Burtnyk, Pierre Charette, Glen Despins, Dale Duguid, Bert Gretzinger, Glenn Howard, Bruce Korte, Allan Lyburn, William Lyburn, Kevin Martin, Greg McAulay, Wayne Middaugh, Kevin Park, Brent Pierce, Vic Peters, Peter Steski and Jeff Stoughton.
The Grand Slam of Curling began in the 2001–02 curling season with four events: the [|Canadian Open], Masters, National, and Players' Championship, the four "majors".
In the 2006–07 curling season, a women's side was added the Players' Championship, and several existing women's events were designated as Grand Slams, but were not operated by the Grand Slam of Curling. Grand Slam games also got reduced to eight ends that season.
In 2012, Sportsnet purchased the Grand Slam of Curling. As such, television rights to the series have also defaulted to Sportsnet, though certain events may still air championship rounds on CBC.
Under this new ownership, the separate women's Grand Slams were phased out, with women's divisions added to existing men's Grand Slams. New Grand Slam events were also added: the Elite 10 in the 2014–15 curling season and the Tour Challenge and Champions Cup in the 2015–16 curling season. A women's division was added to the Elite 10 in the 2018–19 curling season, achieving for the first time equal number of events, prize money, and television time for men and women. The Elite 10 was dropped the next season, bringing the number of events to six.
The 2020–21 curling season will include the first international Grand Slam. The Canadian Open, renamed to the Open, will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

Current Grand Slams

Masters

The Masters was introduced as a men's event 2002, and was added to the women's side in 2012.
;Champions

Tour Challenge

The GSOC Tour Challenge was introduced as a men's and women's event in the 2015–16 curling season. The Tour Challenge has two tiers, with the bottom tier including regional invitations. The Tier 2 winning team qualifies for a subsequent grand slam.
;Champions
The winning skip for Tier 1 is listed above the Tier 2 winning skip.

National

The National was introduced as a men's event in 2002, and was added to the women's side in 2015.
;Champions
1 There was no National in the 2004-2005 season, but the BDO Curling Classic was held. It returned to its original name in the 2005-2006 season. The words "BDO Classic" were added to the name of the Canadian Open.

Open

The Open was introduced as a men's event in 2001, and was added to the women's side in 2014. The Open is the only Grand Slam that uses a triple knockout format. Prior to 2021, the event was known as the Canadian Open.
;Champions

Players' Championship

The Players' Championship, the oldest tournament on the men's Grand Slam of Curling, was introduced as a men's event in 1993, and added to the women's side in 2006.
;Champions

Champions Cup

The Champions Cup was introduced as a men's and women's event in the 2015–16 curling season. The Champions Cup is contested by champions of various Grand Slam, Season of Champions, World Curling Tour, and other events throughout the season.
;Champions

Statistics: Grand Slams won

This is a list of Grand Slam events won per player, including Players' Championships won prior to the creation of the Grand Slam.

Men

As of the 2020 Canadian Open
PlayerTCMast.Nat.OpenE10PCCCTotal
Kevin Martin014508018
Glenn Howard064204016
Brent Laing173203016
Wayne Middaugh034206015
Marc Kennedy203406015
Craig Savill072202013
Mark Nichols123221112
Ben Hebert103305012
Brad Gushue122221111
John Morris003314011
Brett Gallant121221110
Geoff Walker121221110
Scott Bailey01210509
Richard Hart04210108
Carter Rycroft02130208
Mike McEwen02122007
B. J. Neufeld02122007
Denni Neufeld02122007
Don Walchuk01120307
Don Bartlett01120307
Matt Wozniak02122007
Brad Jacobs20210117
E. J. Harnden20210117
Ryan Harnden20210117
Graeme McCarrel01010406
Kevin Koe11010205
Ryan Fry10200115
Jon Mead01210105
Ian Tetley00010405
John Epping01110104
Marcel Rocque01000304
Jeff Stoughton01110104
David Nedohin01000304
Brendan Bottcher00010113
Darren Moulding00010113
Bradley Thiessen00010113
Karrick Martin00010113
Niklas Edin11000103
Oskar Eriksson11000103
Rasmus Wranå11000103
Christoffer Sundgren11000103
Randy Ferbey01000203
Scott Pfeifer01000203
Gary Van Den Berghe01010103
Reid Carruthers00100012
Braeden Moskowy01000012
Mathew Camm01010002
Russ Howard00000202
Peter Corner00100102
Collin Mitchell00200002
Jason Mitchell00200002
Phil Loevenmark00100102
Steve Gould01010002
Nolan Thiessen01010002
Pat Simmons01010002

Women

As of the 2020 Canadian Open; Minimum 2 wins
PlayerAG*ML&L*CS*Elite 10Mast.TCNat'l.OpenPCCCSobey's*WT*Total
Jennifer Jones31101010511115
Dawn McEwen31101010511115
Jill Officer31101010511115
Rachel Homan00003122020010
Emma Miskew00003122020010
Lisa Weagle00003122020010
Kaitlyn Lawes11101010311010
Cathy Overton-Clapham3000100130019
Joanne Courtney0000112201007
Eve Muirhead1010000130006
Vicki Chalmers1010000130006
Anna Sloan1010000120005
Anna Hasselborg0001111100005
Sara McManus0001111100005
Agnes Knochenhauer0001111100005
Sofia Mabergs0001111100005
Val Sweeting0000120010004
Stefanie Lawton0110000010014
Sherry Anderson0210000010004
Sherri Singler0110000010014
Marliese Kasner0110000010014
Sarah Reid0010000120004
Rachelle Brown0000120000003
Dana Ferguson0000120000003
Kelly Scott1100000000013
Jeanna Schraeder1100000000013
Sasha Carter1100000000013
Chelsey Matson1100000000013
Selena Njegovan0000101000002
Liz Fyfe0000101000002
Kristin MacCuish0000101000002
Silvana Tirinzoni0000010001002
Esther Neuenschwander0000010001002
Chelsea Carey0100000100002
Kerri Einarson0000001010002
Lori Olson-Johns0000020000002
Alison Kreviazuk0000200000002
Shannon Kleibrink1100000000002
Sherry Middaugh1000000000102
Amy Nixon1100000000002
Bronwen Webster1100000000002
Claire Hamilton1000000010002
Renee Simons1000000000012

Note: Totals due not include wins prior to the first Grand Slam season of 2006-07.

Former Grand Slams

Sobeys Slam

The Sobeys Slam was held as a Grand Slam event on three occasions in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
;Champions
YearWinning skip
2007Sherry Middaugh
2008Marie-France Larouche
2009Not held
2010Jennifer Jones

Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic

The Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic was held annually in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and was held nine times before it was discontinued.
;Champions
YearWinning skip
2000Shannon Kleibrink
2001Shannon Kleibrink
2002Kelly Scott
2003Kelly Scott
2004Kelley Law
2005Janet Harvey
2006Stefanie Lawton
2007Kelly Scott
2008Jennifer Jones

Manitoba Lotteries Women's Curling Classic

The Manitoba Women's Curling Classic was held in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and was held eight times as a Grand Slam tournament. It was removed from the Grand Slam lineup starting in the 2014–15 curling season.
;Champions
YearWinning skipRunner-up skip
2004Cheryl BernardShannon Kleibrink
2005Jennifer JonesShannon Kleibrink
2006Sherry AndersonJennifer Jones
2007Shannon KleibrinkJennifer Jones
2008Michelle EnglotKelly Scott
2009Kelly ScottJennifer Jones
2010Chelsea CareyCathy Overton-Clapham
2011Renée SonnenbergHeather Nedohin
2012Stefanie LawtonRachel Homan
2013Jennifer JonesJill Thurston

Curlers' Corner Autumn Gold Curling Classic

The Autumn Gold Curling Classic is held annually in Calgary, Alberta, and has been held 42 times. It offers a total purse of $50,000. It was removed from the Grand Slam lineup starting in the 2015–16 curling season.
YearWinning skipRunner-up skip
1978Dorenda SchoenhaldsMarj Mitchell
1979Crystal BrunasSusan Seitz
1980Kerrylyn RichardJoan Hart
1981Kathy FahlmanLinda Saunders
1982Ruby SowinskiKathy Fahlman
1983Emily FarnhamJudy Lukowich
1984Sandy TunerMerilyn Cheyne
1985Marilyn Bodogh-DarteSandy Turner
1986Marilyn Bodogh-DarteKathy Fahlman
1987Jan WiltzenSandra Risebrough
1988Michelle SchneiderCarol Davis
1989Kerrylynn RichardsSandy Turner
1990Cheryl BernardLinda Wild
1991Sandra PetersonDiane Foster
1992Michelle SchneiderDeb Santos
1993Sherry ScheirichGlenys Bakker
1994Michelle SchneiderElisabet Johansson
1995Elisabet GustafsonGlenys Bakker
1996Shannon KleibrinkKelley Owen
1997Heather RankinCheryl Kullman
1998Kim GellardAmber Holland
1999Cathy BorstBronwen Saunders
2000Amber HollandShannon Kleibrink
2001Cathy KingCheryl Bernard
2002Heather NedohinCheryl Bernard
2003Sherry AndersonCathy King
2004Stefanie LawtonCheryl Bernard
2005Jenn HannaJan Betker
2006Kelly ScottCrystal Webster
2007Jennifer JonesShannon Kleibrink
2008Shannon KleibrinkCheryl Bernard
2009Jennifer JonesWang Bingyu
2010Wang BingyuDesirée Owen
2011Cathy Overton-ClaphamAmy Nixon
2012Sherry MiddaughRachel Homan
2013Eve MuirheadWang Bingyu
2014Jennifer JonesRachel Homan

Colonial Square Ladies Classic

The Colonial Square Ladies Classic is held annually in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and has been held since 1983. It officially became a Grand Slam event in 2012. It was removed from the Grand Slam lineup starting in the 2015–16 curling season.
YearWinning skipRunner-up skip
1983Chris MoreMarilyn Bodogh
1984 Carol DavisNancy Kerr
1984 Carolyn MrackConnie Laliberte
1985Marilyn DarteCordella Schwengler
1986Lori McGearyMerle Kopach
1987Karen PowellHeather MacMillan
1988Marilyn Bodogh-DarteAndrea Schöpp
1989Kim ArmbrusterCarolyn Revet
1990Penny RyanDeb Shermack
1991Michelle SchneiderConnie Fennell
1992Shannon KleibrinkKaren Fallis
1993Sandra PetersonKaren Powell
1994Sandra PetersonSherry Anderson
1995Sherry AndersonMichelle Schneider
1996Kelley OwenSherry Scheirich
1997Sherry ScheirichKim Hodson
1998Renelle BrydenAmber Holland
1999Michelle RidgwayAtina Ford
2000Sherry AndersonHeather Fowlie
2001Sherry AndersonSusan Altman
2002Sherry AndersonNancy Inglis
2003Cathy TrowellNancy Inglis
2004Sherry MiddaughRenée Sonnenberg
2005Stefanie LawtonCandace Chisholm
2006Jennifer JonesKaren Purdy
2007Stefanie LawtonCathy King
2008Stefanie LawtonMichelle Englot
2009Stefanie LawtonMirjam Ott
2010Stefanie LawtonJennifer Jones
2011Crystal WebsterVal Sweeting
2012Stefanie LawtonChelsea Carey
2013Jennifer JonesMichèle Jäggi
2014Eve MuirheadSherry Middaugh

Elite 10

The Elite 10 was introduced as a men's event in 2015, and added to the women's side in September 2018. The Elite 10 used a unique match play format, similar to skins curling. The event was dropped for the 2019–20 curling season.
;Champions
YearMen's winning skipWomen's winning skipLocation
2015 Mike McEwenFort McMurray, Alberta
2016 Brad GushueColwood, British Columbia
2017 John MorrisPort Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
2018 Mike McEwenWinnipeg, Manitoba
2018 Brad Gushue Anna HasselborgChatham, Ontario

Pinty's Cup

Beginning with the 2012–13 season, at the end of the season, the top Grand Slam team wins the "Rogers Grand Slam Cup", where they are awarded $75,000. The cup was renamed to the "Bonus Cup" for the 2017–18 season, and then the "Pinty's Cup" in 2018–19. Teams accumulate points based on their performance in each of the slams except for the Champions Cup and Tour Challenge Tier 2.
SeasonMen's winning skipWomen's winning skip
2012–13 Glenn Howard Eve Muirhead
2013–14 Kevin Martin Jennifer Jones
2014–15 Brad Jacobs Eve Muirhead
2015–16 Brad Gushue Rachel Homan
2016–17 Niklas Edin Val Sweeting
2017–18 Brad Gushue Jennifer Jones
2018–19 Kevin Koe Rachel Homan
2019–20 Brad Jacobs Anna Hasselborg