World Curling Tour

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

History

The World Curling Tour was the brainchild of former World Champion Ed Lukowich, who would later be helped out by John Kawaja. Organizing a tour was challenging due to the large geography of Canada and the short curling season (provincial playdowns begin in January, leaving just October to December for tour events).[1]

The World Curling Tour was created in 1992, with men's events only at first. It replaced the "Canadian Curling Tour" held the previous season. The first season consisted of 48 events (with only one outside Canada), and was sponsored by Seagram's distillery. Teams earned points in every event with the top 30 qualifying for the season ending "V.O. Cup", today known as the Players' Championship. Its first president and CEO was Lukowich.[2] The first two events were held on the first weekend of October 1992, the Red Carpet Classic in Regina, Saskatchewan and a qualifier for the Coca-Cola Classic in Winnipeg.[3]

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in Grand Slam events were obliged to not participate in their respective Brier playdowns, however this was quickly rescinded.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[4] 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.[4] The system is now a standard in Curling Canada championship events, though with a 38-minute limit for standard 10-end curling (four minutes for extra ends) and 22 minutes for mixed doubles. The 2018 Canada Cup experimented with breaking the time down by ends — four minutes per end in the first half of the game, and four minutes, 15 seconds in the second half; if time runs out, the offending team can play no more rocks in the end.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7] 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 Canadian-based World Curling Tour officially merged with the European and Asian based Curling Champions Tour to create a worldwide entity focused on growing the game on the international stage. The World Curling Tour World rights holder is now the Zurich Switzerland-based company CCT Event GmbH. This merger has also led to the growth of a Mixed Doubles tour, along with adding Junior and Wheelchair curling tours to expand the offering.[8]

Men's Events

As of the 2018-2019 curling season[9]

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

Grand Slam events indicated in bold.

Women's events

As of 2018-2019 curling season[10]

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

Grand Slam events indicated in bold.

Mixed doubles events

As of 2018-2019 curling season[11]

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 CA$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 CA$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 US$24,000
12 Palmerston Mixed Doubles Spiel Palmerston, Ontario CA$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 CA$36,000
15 Ilderton Mixed Doubles Spiel Ilderton, Ontario CA$3,500
16 WCT Mixed Doubles Lodz Lodz, Poland €2,800
17 PrimeLending Mixed Doubles Championship Midland, Michigan US$7,500
17 Sutherland Mixed Doubles Curling Classic Saskatoon, Saskatchewan CA$13,500
19 Italian Mixed Doubles Cup Pinerolo, Italy €3,000
20 Southern Mixed Doubles Charlotte, North Carolina US$3,400
21 Qualico Communities Mixed Doubles Classic Canmore/Banff, Alberta CA$30,000
22 WCT Dutch Masters Mixed Doubles Zoetermeer, Netherlands €1,250
22 Callie Mixed Doubles Classic Regina, Saskatchewan CA$13,500
23 Toronto Cricket Mixed Doubles Cashspiel Toronto, Ontario
24 Gefle Mixed Doubles Cup Gävle, Sweden 3,600 kr
26 Listowel Mixed Doubles Cashspiel Listowel, Ontario CA$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 CA$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
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See also

References
  1. "Pro tour gains momentum". Ottawa Citizen. October 14, 1992. p. 55. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  2. "The Wrench eagerly awaiting pro tour". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. October 8, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  3. "Curling tour starts quietly". Regina Leader-Post. October 7, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  4. "Updated Curling Rule Book alters 'thinking time' rules". Island sports news. September 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  5. Horne, Ryan (8 December 2018). "New timing rules getting mixed reviews at Canada Cup". TSN. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  6. "Asham CurlingZone". CurlingZone. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  7. 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.
  8. "CurlingZone – Everything Curling". dev.curlingzone.com. Retrieved 2017-06-28.
  9. "World Curling Tour - Powered by CurlingZone". www.worldcurl.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  10. "World Curling Tour - Powered by CurlingZone". www.worldcurl.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  11. "World Curling Tour - Powered by CurlingZone". www.worldcurl.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
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