World Curling Tour rolls into Saskatoon for two-week stay
The World Curling Tour is setting up in Saskatoon for the next two weeks, with back-to-back stops — one for the women, and one for the men.
The women kick things off with this weekend’s Colonial Square Ladies Curling Classic, which begins today at the Nutana and wraps up Sunday.
Here are some things to know about the three-day affair.
1. There will be a new champ
Last year’s finalists, China’s Bingyu Wang and Scotland’s Eve Muirhead, are not in the field for 2017. That meeting of former world championship skips was the Classic’s first all-international finale, and Wang walked away with a 7-4 victory.
Four international teams are in the field this time around — there were nine last year — with those four including Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa, South Korea’s Un-Chi Gim, Scotland’s Claire Hamilton and Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg.
Overall, this year’s draw includes 16 teams, down from 24 last year, and they’ll play for a $27,000 purse.
2. Out-of-province notables
Oft-decorated Jennifer Jones, who won the Classic in 2006 and 2013, has a team in the Classic field this week. Hasselborg will represent Sweden at the 2018 Olympic Games. Fujisawa placed second at the 2016 world women’s championship in Swift Current.
3. Wheat province sweepers
Saskatchewan teams at the Classic include Sherry Anderson (Saskatoon), Brett Barber (Biggar), Chantelle Eberle (Regina), Shalon Fleming (Regina), Amber Holland (Regina), Ashley Howard (Regina), Nancy Martin (Saskatoon) and Robyn Silvernagle (North Battleford).
4. Right on schedule
Action begins today at noon with eight games, and continues at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. The two A finals go Saturday at 10 a.m., three B finals at 2 p.m., and three C finals at 6 p.m.
The playoff round goes Sunday, with draws at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. before wrapping up with the 5 p.m. final at the Nutana.
5. Up next
The College Clean Restoration Curling Classic, which is the local men’s WCT stop, begins next Friday and wraps up the following Monday. Thirty-one teams are expected to play in the tripleknockout event.