World Curling Tour

The World Curling Tour is a group of curling bonspiels featuring the best male, female, and mixed doubles curlers in the world.

History

The World Curling Tour was created in 1992, with men's events only. In 2001, the WCT introduced a series of Grand Slam events for men which was later followed in 2006 by Grand Slam events for women. These became known as the Grand Slam of Curling and featured large payouts. Originally, curlers who participated in Grand Slam events were obliged to not participate in their respective Brier playdowns, however this was quickly rescinded.

Most WCT events are held in the Fall, and early Winter to avoid competing with the Brier and Scotties playdowns.

The WCT is experimenting with length of games in two interesting ways. The first is that the games are only eight ends long with a 4th end break. The second is that the time clocks only count "thinking time", so the clock goes off when the players throw the rock. The reason is that time clocks, an innovation created to speed up the game, would stop as soon as the stone stopped.With the old system where teams were given 73 minutes of time [1] if a team was losing, they would throw more draw shots which take time. The team that is winning throws more hits and thus ends up with more time if needed. So the WCT moved to "Thinking time" to even out this discrepancy. With this new system, each team is given 40 minutes of “Thinking Time” plus an additional 5 minutes if the game goes to an extra end.[1]

The team with the most winnings at the end of the year wins the Founders Trophy. The winners in 2007 were Kevin Martin's team who won a total of $176,000.

A Women's World Curling Tour also exists, and is now affiliated with the WCT.

As of 2018, the Men's and Women's World Curling Tour begins its debut in early August with the Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic and has events taking place all throughout the curling season until the Champions Cup in late April. Each of the bonspiel events on the World Curling Tour lasts for approximately 3 days with a final payoff ranging in the thousands of dollars for the winners. There are 7 major men’s and women's tournaments that are held throughout the year, each with a final cash prize of at least $100,000 for the winning team. These are the Elite 10, the Masters, the Tour Challenge, the National, the Canadian Open, the Players' Championship, and the Champions Cup. Together, these events are known as Grand Slam events because of the large payoff that is associated with them as well as the number of high-level curlers that play in these tournaments. There also used to be 2 more Grand Slam events for the women called the Sobeys Slam and Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic but these were discontinued in 2010.

On October 2, 2006, the license of rights for the Grand Slam of Curling was sold to Insight Sports Ltd. but was later sold again in August 2012 to Rogers Communications.[2] The WCT naming rights were then sold to Asham, a long time contributor to the sport, until 2014 and because of this, the World Curling Tour was renamed Asham’s World Curling Tour. The Grand Slam was originally simply called the Grand Slam of Curling until 2008 when the rights were sold by the CBC to Capital One bank which renamed the Grand Slam the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling. Unlike the other World Curling Tour events, these Grand Slams they are played in 8-end games as opposed to the usual 10 end games found in the other WCT events. Another new rule that was first put into practice at the men’s nationals in 2014 is the 5 rock rule which increased the 4 rock rule and free guard zone rule by another rock.[3] This changed the starting strategy of the game as the team with the hammer was able to throw up two guards uncontested instead of the usual 1 allowed with the previously used 4 rock rule. Through the addition of the Grand Slam events and the new rule changes, the WCT is rapidly becoming a well known series to sports fans worldwide.

On June 28, 2017, the World Curling Tour officially merged with the Curling Champions Tour to create a worldwide entity focused on growing the game on the international stage. This led to the growth of a Mixed Doubles tour, along with adding Junior and Wheelchair curling tours to expand the offering.[4]

Men's Events

As of the 2018-2019 curling season[5]

Week Event Location Purse
1 Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic Hokkaido, Japan ¥‎1,700,000
2 Baden Masters Baden, Switzerland CHF33,000
2 GOLDLINE Icebreaker at the Granite Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$7,680
3 Oakville Fall Classic Oakville, Ontario CAD$15,000
4 Stu Sells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario CAD$25,000
5 AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins ClassicCornwall, OntarioCAD$60,200
5 King Cash Spiel Maple Ridge, British Columbia CAD$12,000
5 Morris SunSpiel Morris, Manitoba CAD$8,400
6 College Clean Restoration Curling Classic Saskatoon, Saskatchewan CAD$33,000
6 Mother Club Fall Curling Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$10,000
6 KW Fall Classic Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
7 Princess Auto Elite 10 Chatham, Ontario CAD$100,000
7 Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic Vernon, British Columbia CAD$12,000
7 KKP Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$12,000
7 Avonair Cash Spiel Edmonton, Alberta CAD$10,000
7 Tallinn Mens International Challenger Tallinn, Estonia €3,000
8 StuSells Toronto Tankard Toronto, Ontario CAD$17,500
8 Swiss Cup Basel Basel, Switzerland CHF40,000
8 St. Paul Let's Cure Lupus Cash Spiel St. Paul, Minnesota USD$12,000
8 Bud Light Men's Cash Spiel Halifax, Nova Scotia CAD$6,400
8 Manitoba Curling Tour Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$6,400
9 Canad Inns Men's Classic Portage la Prairie, Manitoba CAD$56,000
9 Driving Force Abbotsford Cashspiel Abbotsford, British Columbia CAD$18,000
9 McKee Homes Fall Curling Classic Airdrie, Alberta CAD$12,800
9 Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel Stroud, Ontario CAD$12,200
9 Atkins Curling Supplies Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$8,800
9 Kalamazoo Men's Classic Kalamazoo, Michigan USD$3,600
10 Curling Masters Champery Champery, Switzerland CHF50,000
10 Challenge de Curling de Gatineau Gatineau, Quebec CAD$41,000
10 Medicine Hat Charity Classic Medicine Hat, Alberta CAD$35,000
11 Masters of Curling Truro, Nova Scotia CAD$125,000
11 Huron ReproGraphics Oil Heritage Classic Sarnia, Ontario CAD$22,000
11 Kamloops Crown of Curling Kamloops, British Columbia CAD$16,000
11 Fort Garry Industries Bonspiel Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$6,400
11 Latvia International Challenger Tukums, Latvia €3,000
12 DEKALB SuperspielMorris, ManitobaCAD$45,000
12 Dave Jones Alexander Keiths Mayflower Cashspiel Halifax, Nova Scotia CAD$22,000
12 Raymond Jones Kelowna Double Cash Kelowna, British Columbia CAD$18,000
12 Prague Classic Prague, Czech Republic €15,500
12 Grand Prix Bern Inter Curling Challenge Bern, Switzerland CHF18,100
13 GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 1 Thunder Bay, Ontario CAD$100,000
13 GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 2 Thunder Bay, Ontario CAD$50,000
13 Original 16 WCT Bonspiel Calgary, Alberta CAD$24,000
14 Red Deer Curling ClassicRed Deer, AlbertaCAD$35,000
14 Stu Sells 1924 Halifax Classic Halifax, Nova Scotia CAD$25,000
14 King Spud Classic Berth Spiel Carberry, Manitoba CAD$8,640
14 Fort Wayne Mad Anthony CashSpiel Fort Wayne, Indiana USD$4,560
14 Secker Ross & Perry Eastern Ontario Championship Kingston, Ontario CAD$20,000
15 Ashley Home Store Curling Classic Penticton, British Columbia CAD$66,000
15 Challenge Casino de Charlevoix Clermont, Quebec CAD$27,000
15 The Sunova Spiel at East St. Paul Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$10,500
15 Black Diamond/High River Cash Black Diamond/High River, Alberta CAD$7,900
16 Curl Mesabi Classic Eveleth, Minnesota USD$18,000
16 Brantford Nissan Mens Classic Brantford, Ontario CAD$16,000
16 Thistle Integrity Stakes Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$4,800
17 Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling Estevan, Saskatchewan CAD$70,000
17 WFG Jim Sullivan Curling Classic Saint John, New Brunswick CAD$15,300
17 Farmers Edge SCT Wadena, Saskatchewan CAD$11,500
17 MCT Championships Dauphin, Manitoba CAD$8,000
17 Aland International Challenger Aland, Finland €3,000
18 Boost National Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador CAD$125,000
18 Dakota Challenger Spiel Lakeville, Minnesota USD$4,000
18 Dumfries Challenger Series Dumfries, Scotland
19 Karuizawa International Karuizawa, Japan ¥‎4,000,000
20 ASHAM U.S. Open of Curling Blaine, Minnesota USD$20,000
21 Mercure Perth Masters Perth, Scotland €20,950
22 Meridian Canadian Open North Battleford, Saskatchewan CAD$100,000
22 Brandon Mens Bonspiel Brandon, Manitoba CAD$7,200
24 Ed Werenich Golden Wrench Classic Tempe, Arizona USD$16,000
35 Players' Championship Toronto, Ontario CAD$100,000
37 Humpty's Champions Cup Calgary, Alberta CAD$150,000

Grand Slam events indicated in bold.

Women's events

As of 2018-2019 curling season[6]

Week Event Location Purse
1 Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic Hokkaido, Japan ¥‎1,700,000
2 GOLDLINE Icebreaker at the Granite Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$6,020
3 Oakville Fall Classic Oakville, Ontario CAD$9,000
4 HDF Insurance Shoot-OutEdmonton, AlbertaCAD$32,000
4 Stu Sells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario CAD$25,000
5 AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins ClassicCornwall, OntarioCAD$29,500
5 Colonial Square Ladies Classic Saskatoon, Saskatchewan CAD$27,000
5 Morris SunSpiel Morris, Manitoba CAD$8,400
5 King Cash Spiel Maple Ridge, British Columbia CAD$8,000
6 Mother Club Fall Curling Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$8,000
6 Riga International Curling Challenge Riga, Latvia €2,000
6 KW Fall Classic Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
7 Princess Auto Elite 10 Chatham, Ontario CAD$100,000
7 Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic Vernon, British Columbia CAD$41,000
7 Avonair Cash Spiel Edmonton, Alberta CAD$8,000
7 Manitoba Curling Tour Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$5,200
7 Tallinn Ladies International Challenge Tallinn, Estonia €3,000
8 Stockholm Ladies Cup Stockholm, Sweden 331,000 kr
8 Curlers Corner Autumn Gold Curling ClassicCalgary, AlbertaCAD$50,000
8 StuSells Toronto Tankard Toronto, Ontario CAD$17,500
8 New Scotland Clothing Ladies Cashspiel Halifax, Nova Scotia CAD$6,400
8 St. Paul Let's Cure Lupus Cash Spiel St. Paul, Minnesota USD$6,000
9 Womens Masters Basel Basel, Switzerland CHF32,000
9 Driving Force Abbotsford Cashspiel Abbotsford, British Columbia CAD$10,000
9 Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel Stroud, Ontario CAD$7,200
10 China Open Beijing, China USD$100,000
10 Canad Inns Women's Classic Portage la Prairie, Manitoba CAD$60,000
10 Paf Masters Tour Aland, Finland €18,000
10 Medicine Hat Charity Classic Medicine Hat, Alberta CAD$11,600
11 Masters of Curling Truro, Nova Scotia CAD$125,000
11 Kamloops Crown of Curling Kamloops, British Columbia CAD$16,000
11 Gord Carroll Curling Classic Whitby, Ontario CAD$15,000
11 Fort Garry Industries Bonspiel Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$6,400
11 Latvia International Challenger Tukums, Latvia €3,000
12 DEKALB SuperspielMorris, ManitobaCAD$45,000
12 Royal LePage Women's Fall ClassicKemptville, OntarioCAD$21,000
12 Dave Jones Stanhope Simpson Insurance Mayflower Cashspiel Halifax, Nova Scotia CAD$10,000
12 Raymond Jones Kelowna Double Cash Kelowna, British Columbia CAD$9,000
13 GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 1 Thunder Bay, Ontario CAD$100,000
13 GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 2 Thunder Bay, Ontario CAD$50,000
13 Crestwood Ladies Fall Classic Edmonton, Alberta CAD$11,000
14 Red Deer Curling ClassicRed Deer, AlbertaCAD$35,000
15 Boundary Ford Curling ClassicLloydminster, AlbertaCAD$24,000
15 Spitfire Arms Cash Spiel Windsor, Nova Scotia CAD$12,000
15 The Sunova Spiel at East St. Paul Winnipeg, Manitoba CAD$10,500
16 Curl Mesabi Classic Eveleth, Minnesota USD$15,000
17 Home Hardware Canada Cup of Curling Estevan, Saskatchewan CAD$70,000
17 CCT City of Perth Ladies International Perth, Scotland £15,800
17 MCT Championships Dauphin, Manitoba CAD$8,000
17 WFG Jim Sullivan Curling Classic Saint John, New Brunswick CAD$5,500
18 Boost National Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador CAD$100,000
18 Dakota Challenger Spiel Lakeville, Minnesota USD$4,000
19 Karuizawa International Karuizawa, Japan ¥‎4,000,000
20 ASHAM U.S. Open of Curling Blaine, Minnesota USD$20,000
22 Meridian Canadian Open North Battleford, Saskatchewan CAD$100,000
22 International Bernese Ladies Cup Bern, Switzerland CHF21,500
23 Glynhill Ladies International Glasgow, Scotland £11,000
35 Players' Championship Toronto, Ontario CAD$100,000
37 Humpty's Champions Cup Calgary, Alberta CAD$150,000

Grand Slam events indicated in bold.

Mixed doubles events

As of 2018-2019 curling season[7]

Week Event Location Purse
3 Audi Quattro Winter Games NZ Mixed Doubles Naseby, New Zealand
3 Battleford Mixed Doubles Fall Curling Classic North Battleford, Saskatchewan CAD$13,500
4 Oberstdorf International Mixed Doubles Cup Oberstdorf, Germany €3,200
6 WCT Tallinn Mixed Doubles International Tallinn, Estonia €1,200
9 Sherwood Park Mixed Doubles Classic Edmonton, Alberta CAD$4,000
10 WCT Austrian Mixed Doubles Cup Kitzbuehel, Austria €3,500
11 WCT Mixed Doubles Cup Geising Geising, Germany €3,500
12 MadTown DoubleDown Madison, Wisconsin USD$24,000
12 Palmerston Mixed Doubles Spiel Palmerston, Ontario CAD$1,200
13 International Mixed Doubles Sochi Sochi, Russia
14 Mixed Doubles Bern Bern, Switzerland CHF10,000
14 Canad Inns Mixed Doubles Championship Portage la Prairie, Manitoba CAD$36,000
15 Ilderton Mixed Doubles Spiel Ilderton, Ontario CAD$3,500
16 WCT Mixed Doubles Lodz Lodz, Poland €2,800
17 PrimeLending Mixed Doubles Championship Midland, Michigan USD$7,500
17 Sutherland Mixed Doubles Curling Classic Saskatoon, Saskatchewan CAD$13,500
19 Italian Mixed Doubles Cup Pinerolo, Italy €3,000
20 Southern Mixed Doubles Charlotte, North Carolina USD$3,400
21 Qualico Communities Mixed Doubles Classic Canmore/Banff, Alberta CAD$30,000
22 WCT Dutch Masters Mixed Doubles Zoetermeer, Netherlands €1,250
22 Callie Mixed Doubles Classic Regina, Saskatchewan CAD$13,500
23 Toronto Cricket Mixed Doubles Cashspiel Toronto, Ontario
24 Gefle Mixed Doubles Cup Gavle, Sweden 3,600 kr
26 Listowel Mixed Doubles Cashspiel Listowel, Ontario CAD$9,000
26 International Mixed Doubles Trophy Aarau Aarau, Switzerland CHF7,000
27 WCT Tallinn Masters Mixed Doubles Tallinn, Estonia €1,250
27 Nutana Mixed Doubles Classic Saskatoon, Saskatchewan CAD$13,500
28 Slovakia Mixed Doubles Curling Cup Bratislava, Slovakia €2,800
29 International Mixed Doubles Sochi 2 Sochi, Russia
31 Westbay Hungarian Mixed Doubles Cup Budapest, Hungary €3,100
32 International Mixed Doubles Dumfries Dumfries, Scotland £5,200
34 LODE Latvian Mixed Doubles Curling Cup 1 Riga, Latvia €1,000
35 LODE Latvian Mixed Doubles Curling Cup 2 Riga, Latvia €1,000

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Updated Curling Rule Book alters 'thinking time' rules". Island sports news. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Asham world curling tour". World Curling Tour. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Landry, Don. "Grand Slam of Curling: Five-rock rule comes to The National. Does the game need it or something more?". Yahoo sports Canada. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "CurlingZone – Everything Curling". dev.curlingzone.com. Retrieved 2017-06-28.
  5. ↑ "World Curling Tour - Powered by CurlingZone". www.worldcurl.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  6. ↑ "World Curling Tour - Powered by CurlingZone". www.worldcurl.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  7. ↑ "World Curling Tour - Powered by CurlingZone". www.worldcurl.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
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