Tour Challenge Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Tour Challenge Preview

Bracket Mania continues in PEI

 As one Bracket Mania event ends, another begins.

The #Sweep16 is a mere days entered into the record book and we are already watching another major curling event.

Oh how this schedule can be both fun and cruel at the same time.

And those teams who competed in Alberta at the PointsBet Invitational before flying across Canada to compete at the Tour Challenge in PEI...You are true rock stars. At least they are racking up those travel points, right?

Notice the statement above using the word "watching" for the #gsoc?

We are FINALLY able to WATCH Grand Slam of Curling action when the event actually starts.

What a concept!!

ALL games for ALL draws are now available for Live Streaming HERE.

Not all sheets will have commentary however but you can still watch your favourite teams compete and enjoy the sights and sounds of the arena.

New #GSOC logo. Live streaming. Triple knockout format.

What's next for the new-look Grand Slam of Curling?

We see you The Curling Group...and we await what "surprises" you have for us next.

As mentioned, The Tour Challenge event will be a triple knockout format for the first time in its history.

There has been A LOT of talk surrounding curling event formats over the past few years. Some like the triple knockout. Some like the pool play.

But the weird formatting of the past, especially when teams were placed into pools but never actually played teams within their pool, was confusing and weird. For players and fans alike.

There may be some nuances of a triple knockout format people are hesitant about as well, like not being able to plan ahead and know who is playing who each draw.

Fans cannot pre-buy tickets to draws featuring their favourite team(s).

Teams do not know their event schedule as it varies depending if they win or lose each time they step on the ice.

But, as we learned from the Sweep 16, a bracket format can still be fun and exciting. We can see new matchups between teams we may have not seen before.

And there is pressure to perform every game. 

With a pool format, you can sometimes afford to have a "bad game" but still keep playoff chances alive.

With a bracket format, a bad game could quickly see you in the #CSideGrind or eliminated from playoff contention.

And at least you have the "three strikes, you are out" rule. With a pool format, sometimes 2 losses would be 1 too many.

The "bad game" mentality can still work but it can result in playing more games, a tougher schedule and less "byes" in between games. You may end up having to play 3 straight draws just to qualify.

Now, if only we can get some fantasy curling back into the mix with this new The Curling Group team. I am sure there can be some sort of Bracket Challenge to enter with a triple knockout.

Bracket Mania can still sweep the curling community. If we build it, they will come!

Speaking of, lets dive into the event itself. We have the Tier I and Tier II. 16 men's and women's teams in both. 32 teams in each tier. 64 teams overall competing.

Yowie Wowie!

For this preview, the blog will keep the similar preview format of listing #Favs and #TeamUpsets (known as #BracketBusters for this event).

To be considered a #Fav, you need to be seeded #1 - #8. The #BracketBusters are those lower seeded teams (#9 - #16).

And, since these are very stacked fields, each category could have up to 3 teams listed.

Lets dive into the beautiful waters of PEI for the Tour Challenge Preview.

#TwineTimePreview

Tour Challenge

Charlottetown, PEI

Tier I

2023 Champions: Team Jones (W) and Team Retornaz (M)

WOMEN

#Favs

Team Homan

They haven't lost this season. What more can we say?

2 events. 2 titles. 12-0 on the season.

Are you going to bet against them?

Team Tirinzoni

Ok, if Homan is the overwhelming #Fav, do we just dismiss the rest of the field?

Don't tell Silvana Tirinzoni and Alina Patz. They may have something to say about that idea.

Tirinzoni may have lost the Shorty Jenkins final to Homan but since that loss Tirinzoni went on a 7-0 winning streak and claimed a tour title in Basel, knocking off Team Hasselborg in the final.

If Homan slips up at all, Tirinzoni may be the team ready to capitalize.

Luckily they find themselves on the other half of the draw, meaning they may not meet until the playoffs.

Team Gim

Speaking of a team who could be ready to capitalize, what about Korea's Team Gim?

They also arrive in PEI fresh off a tour title win in Beaumont, AB.

The Korean champs have already played 5 tour events this season, qualifying in each of them and reaching 2 tour finals with 1 championship win.

Similar to Tirinzoni, they are in the bottom half of the bracket and could possibly avoid Homan until the playoffs.

But they could face Tirinzoni in an A-qualifier.

Team Hasselborg

What about Sweden's Team Hasselborg?

They have also been curling light's out during the early part of the season.

2 tour events. 2 finals. 1 title. Plus the 4-0 sweep over main rivals Team Wrana at the Euro Qualifier.

Unlike Tirinzoni and Gim however, their playoff path looks a bit more daunting. Not only do they find themselves in the top half of the bracket with Homan but to get to the qualifier game they have to get by Team Fujisawa and possibly Team Carey.

Take note as well they will have a slightly altered lineup this week with second Agnes Knochenhauer missing this event to attend her sister's wedding. Regular team alternate Johanna Heldin will be stepping in.

#BracketBusters

Team X. Schwaller

The Queen of the BracketBusters might be Switzerland's Team Schwaller. Although they are seeded #11 for the event, they arrive in PEI as the #9 ranked team in the world.

They have played 4 tour events this season, qualifying in 3, reaching 2 finals and winning 1 title (Stu Sells Oakville).

This will be the most competitive field they have played in this season of course but they arrive with a ton of confidence and positive momentum.

Plus this is their second straight slam event, having competed at the 2024 Players' Championship at the end of last season.

They draw Sweden's Team Wrana in their opener, a team they have lost to earlier in the season. But Wrana is also looking very vulnerable right now so an upset is very possible. 

Should they win their opener, they could draw Gim in the A-SF.

Team Fujisawa

Seeded #12 for the event and ranked #11 in the world, Japan's Team Fujisawa is one of those teams nobody wants to see in their draw.

After winning their first slam in 2023 (Canadian Open), we saw them drop off a bit last season. They only qualified in 1 slam (Canadian Open) and struggled in the others.

They seem to be back to their consistent results this season though. They have played in 5 tour events, qualified in each of them and have reached 2 finals.

When they are on, they are one of the toughest teams in the world to beat.

Their opener vs. Hasselborg is a #PopcornGame to watch.

#W2W4

The Top 4 teams are #Favs for a reason and should qualify for the playoffs.

But that still leaves 4 playoff spots up for grabs and an argument could be made for any of the remaining 12 teams in the field to claim those playoff tickets.

Canada's Team Einarson and Team Carey do look vulnerable as higher seeds.

Note Einarson will have #SuperSpare Dawn McEwen playing with them this week as Shannon Birchard continues to recover.

Team Constantini and Team Sturmay could be very dangerous lower seeds.

Last year's Tier II champions, Team E. Kim from Korea, are back in the Tier I draw now and look very strong heading into this event. Can a team go from winning the Tier II the previous year to winning the Tier I the next year?

Keep an eye on Scotland's Team Morrison. They have made the change to Sophie Jackson skipping the team. Jackson will still throw lead stones though as Rebecca Morrison continues to throw fourth stones.

#PopcornGames

Team Hasselborg vs. Team Fujisawa - A perfect game to open the women's draw. Although both teams may not be liking their draw.

Team Wrana vs. Team Schwaller - The upset special of the opening round.

Team Lawes vs. Team E. Kim - This could be fun...and loud!

Team Homan vs. Team Einarson (possible A-SF) - The Canadian rivalry continues?

MEN

#Favs

Team McEwen

What a Sweep 16 this team had! They really were the class of the field and dominated their way towards picking up the title in Calgary.

Make it 3 straight tour title events now for the Sasky team. Can they make it 4 straight and win their 1st slam together?

The big difference on this team right now is with skipper Mike McEwen. Having watched him live in Calgary, he is not only curling to perfection but, more importantly perhaps, he is smiling and having fun on the ice.

There has been lots of talk in past seasons about whether McEwen still has the love of the game. Many have missed his smile while competing. It would seem the smile and fun has returned. And that makes him VERY dangerous.

Team Mouat

While McEwen is on a roll, lets not forget the hot start to the season from Scotland's Team Mouat either.

They have also been winning. And winning with confidence. They pulled off the Euro Double earlier in the season. They opened their season with an undefeated run in those two events (14-0).

For a team who entered the season possibly sitting under a small gray cloud given the Scottish championship loss last season and still being selected to compete at the world championship, they have certainly silenced all that chatter and turned their cloud into rays of sunshine.

Would you be surprised to see them hoisting the title on Sunday?

#BracketBusters

Team Brunner

We really could list any of the lower 8 seeds under this category but that didn't seem fair. Plus more on this topic below.

So why not go with Switzerland's Team Brunner?

Last year this team competed in the Tier II, missing the playoffs with a 1-3 record. 

Fast forward a year later and here they are as the #14 seed in the Tier I.

Lets not take anything away from their rise to the upper echelon of the sport in one year's time. They actually are ranked #10 in the world going into this event.

This season, Brunner has reached 2 SF and 1 QF from 4 events played. We last saw them in Okotoks a few weeks ago, reaching the SF (loss vs. McEwen) after a QF victory over Team Jacobs.

The path to the playoffs will not be easy of course, drawing Team Gushue in their opening and, if they win, likely seeing Team Edin in the next round. Imagine having to beat both of them just to reach an A-qualifier game?

Yikes!

#W2W4

Can any of the teams seeded #9 - #16 mount a playoff charge?

This bracket seems VERY top heavy with the top 8 seeds looking very strong.

Many people talk about the divide between Tier I and Tier II but, right now, I would say there might be a stronger divide between the Top 8 in Tier I and the rest of the field (including Tier II).

The #9 - #16 seeds in the Tier I and the teams competing in Tier II may have a closer gap by comparison.

Will any of those lower seeded teams "upset" the higher seeds and stop the playoff bracket from becoming only the Top 8?

Canada's Team Dunstone, Team Koe and Team Carruthers all looked wobbly at the Sweep 16.

Scotland's Team Craik and Team Bryce have looked good at times but those strong results were more on friendly Euro ice.

USA's Team Shuster and Team Dropkin can be hit and miss as well this season.

And Team Brunner...well the blog already listed them as the likely lower seed with #BracketBuster potential.

Plus note Koe will still be playing with 3 members while Dropkin will also be playing with 3 this week as Mark Fenner is still recovering from a hip injury.

But look at this Top 8 listing: Retornaz, Mouat, Gushue, Jacobs, Whyte, Edin, Schwaller, McEwen.

Would you really bet your bracket against any of those teams right now?

#PopcornGames

Team McEwen vs. Team Dunstone - What an opener for both.

Team Gushue vs. Team Edin (possible A-SF) - Who doesn't want to see more of this rivalry?

Team Retornaz vs. Team Jacobs (possible A-qualifier) - A rematch of last year's final...but with Brad Jacobs now at the helm

Tier II

2023 Champions: Team E. Kim (W) and Team Casper (M)

WOMEN

#Favs

Japan

Team Kitazawa, Team Tabata, Team Yoshimura and Team Ueno can equally be considered #Favs heading into this slam event.

It would not be surprising to see not only all 4 qualify for the playoffs but even a Japanese Final Four sweep.

We could even see an all-Japanese women's final.

The blog has been high on the strong results and evolution of Japanese women's curling this season, usually shown in the #PowerRankings blog posts.

Remember, only a few weeks ago Team Tabata was sitting at #1 on the Power Rankings.

Not a fan of the #TwineTime Power Rankings? Look at the world rankings then: Kitazawa #18, Tabata #19, Yoshimura #20, Ueno #25.

Kitazawa has qualified in all 5 tour events this season, including 3 finals and 1 title.

Tabata has qualified in all 6 tour events this season with 3 final appearances resulting in 3 tour titles.

Yoshimura has qualified in 4 of 6 tour events with 2 final appearances and 1 tour title.

Ueno, the defending Japanese champion, has qualified in 2 of 3 events. But their last event was a tour title win at the Mother Club in Winnipeg. And they arrive in PEI on a 6-match winning streak.

Add it all up and these 4 teams could wreck havoc on this draw.

Plus Tabata vs. Yoshimura in the opening game for both teams.

Team Skrlik

How do you follow up a run to the Sweep 16 final?

You fly across the country, compete in another Bracket Mania event and reach another final?

Do not raise an eyebrow to this high probability.

Team Skrlik has been playing some light's out curling this season.

4 events played. 3 finals. 1 SF. And when your finals losses include 2 against Team Homan, well Homan is undefeated so you can't really hang your head too low with those losses.

#BracketBusters

Team Dupont

The finalists from a year ago are back and looking for some revenge.

While we do not get a ton of opportunity to see the Danish champions on Canadian ice, when you do get the chance consider it a "not to miss" moment.

We have seen what this team can accomplish against strong fields. Just look at their results from the European Curling Championships and World Women's Curling Championship over the past few seasons.

And, this season, they have only played 2 events but they qualified in both and ended up with SF and QF results.

This is a VERY dangerous #BracketBuster team to watch out for. Do not let that #26 world ranking fool you.

How about their opening game vs. Skrlik too? Yikes (for both)!!

Team Thevenot

Speaking of a world ranking number not to get too caught up on, how about Saskatchewan's Team Thevenot sitting at #27?

Before their Sweep 16 loss in Calgary, they had reached 2 straight tour finals and already had 1 tour title under the slider.

In fact, they opened their season on an impressive 9-match winning streak and own a season record of 10-3.

Their opener vs. Korea's Team Ha is going to be fun.

But have they parked their Sweep 16 disappointment or will it linger just a bit?

#W2W4

This field is wide open and the Tier II title is up for grabs.

Teams coming off strong Sweep 16 performances are dangerous (Skrlik, Team Cameron).

Japan has a handful of threats.

Teams who maybe faltered in the Sweep 16 opening round but have a strong season resume could go deep as well (Team Thevenot, Team Inglis, Team Gray-Withers).

Or could a surprise team (Team Black, Team MacMillan) emerge to take the title?

These are 16 strong teams matched up with a parity field.

Could we really call any of the results an "upset" at the end of the day?

#PopcornGames

Team Tabata vs. Team Yoshimura - What a tough opening game for 2 teams who very easily could go deep in this event. They have played one another once this season, with Tabata scoring the win at the ARGO Graphics Cup in Kitami, Japan.

Team Skrlik vs. Team Dupont - Again, another tough opener for both teams. Skrlik is on fire this season. Dupont reached the final here last year.

Team Ha vs. Team Thevenot - Call it a broken record but lets go 3 for 3 on opening round games worth watching.

Team Tabata/Yoshimura vs. Team Ueno (possible A-SF) - Perhaps the real question here is whether Team Brown can halt a guaranteed Japanese team in the A-qualifier? They open against Ueno.

MEN

#Favs

Team Muskatewitz

The German's may be the #8 seed in the event BUT they are currently sitting #18 in the world. They are RIGHT on the cusp of Tier I qualification right now folks.

And deservingly so.

They have qualified in 3 of 4 tour events this season, reaching the trifecta of playoff results: QF, SF, F.

Plus look at the list of Tier I teams they have defeated this season: Team Craik, Team Retornaz, Team Shuster, Team Schwaller, Team Dropkin.

While we know the winner of this event earns a ticket to a future slam event, this team may not even need the backdoor pass. Given their results already this season, they may find themselves earning their #gsoc ticket on tour results alone.

This is a very dangerous, and confident, team right now.

Team Kleiter

Speaking of confidence, if Saskatchewan's Team Kleiter can forget the last time they were on the ice (loss to Team Gushue at the Sweep 16) and focus on all their positive results already this season, they could make a very deep playoff run in PEI.

The SF and QF results to open their season should still inspire confidence from the young team. They also are 2-0 vs. Team Koe this season.

Sure the Elite 8 loss in Calgary stung but Gushue is Gushue after all. Everyone gets "The Goo" sometimes.

They draw Team Mooibroek in their opener, the same team they eliminated in the Sweep 16 opener. 

Plus, they may be motivated by their QF result here last year and feeling like they have some unfinished business to take care of.

Team Ramsfjell

Another dangerous European team? You know it.

Norway's Team Ramsfjell is no stranger to #gsoc events. Remember the 2022 Masters when they burst on the scene and reached the SF? They also reached the QF at last year's Masters.

Some may say the team might be disappointed to be competing in the Tier II event when they have been a Tier I team the past few seasons.

It happens. And perhaps this is the event they use as their launching pad back into the Top 16.

We last saw them on the ice at the Oslo Cup a month ago, reaching the QF. 

Will the month-long layoff help or hinder their progress here?

Their opening game could be a dangerous one....

#BracketBusters

Team Purcell

Who does Team Ramsfjell face off in the opening round? Nova Scotia's Team Purcell.

The same Team Purcell who turned heads at the Sweep 16 with their opening round W over Team Sluchinski and pushing Team Jacobs in the Elite 8.

Statistically speaking, they are not having the best start to the season.

But sometimes stats don't matter. If this team comes out of the hack with the same way they played in Calgary, watch out.

If not, it could be a short week.

They could break your bracket. They could go home early. Anything and everything is in play with this team.

Purcell was the final team to earn a spot in the field, partially in thanks to Norway's Team Hostmaelingen declining their invite.

#W2W4

Both finalists from last year are back: Team Casper and Team Morozumi.

Can either, or both, make a deep run again in 2024?

Japan's Morozumi is always dangerous and has experience on their side.

USA's Team Casper may be in tough trying to #DefendTheIce as they will only be competing with 3 players. Skip Daniel Casper is not with the team this week and vice Luc Violette will move up to skip.

Speaking of skips unable to compete in PEI, Switzerland's Team Stocker will also have a lineup change. Skipper Yves Stocker is not able to be in Charlottetown so Jan Hess will take over skipping duties.

This field looks very different compared to a year ago so opportunity is knocking on the door for all the teams in this field.

The question is who gets to the door to answer it first?

Fun Fact: USA has owned this event over the past few seasons. In fact, the Stars & Stripes has won this event the past 3 iterations with Team Dropkin winning in 2019 and 2022 and Team Casper in 2023 (2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to COVID-19).

Does USA continue their winning ways or will a new country step up to the hack?

#PopcornGames

Team Ramsfjell vs. Team Purcell - Can Purcell ride the hot hand from their Sweep 16 performance or could the back-to-back competing event hinder them early?

Team Morozumi vs. Team Yanagisawa - The battle between two of Japan's best...in the opening round.

Team Muskatewitz vs. Team Sluchinski (possible A-SF) - This would be a fun game to watch.

Team Mustkatewitz/Sluchinski vs. Team Kleither (possible A-qualifier) - Again, this would be a fun game to watch.

#TwineTimePredictions

Tier I Qualifiers (W): Team Homan, Team Tirinzoni, Team Hasselborg, Team Gim, Team Fujisawa, Team Schwaller, Team Lawes, Team Constantini

Tier I Qualifiers (M): Team McEwen, Team Mouat, Team Gushue, Team Whyte, Team Edin, Team Jacobs, Team Retornaz, Team Schwaller

Tier I Championship (W): Team Homan def. Team Tirinzoni

Tier I Championship (M): Team McEwen def. Team Mouat

Tier II Qualifiers (W): Team Skrlik, Team Kitazawa, Team Tabata, Team Ha, Team Cameron, Team Inglis, Team Yoshimura, Team Thevenot

Tier II Qualifiers (M): Team Muskatewitz, Team Morozumi, Team Kleiter, Team Ramsfjell, Team Waddell, Team Hoesli, Team Yanagisawa, Team Sluchinski

Tier II Championship (W): Team Skrlik def. Team Tabata

Tier II Championship (M): Team Morozumi def. Team Kleiter

What say you rock heads? Agree? Disagree?

What does your bracket look like and who do you have going all the way to winning the opening slam title of the season?

Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below and/or on social media using the #gsoc and #TourChallenge.

#StayTuned

The #PowerRankings will return next week and you can bet there will be some shakeups on the mountain.

The #Sweep16 results + Tour Challenge results are going to be combined to reveal the new Top 10.

Who will sit atop the mountain as we welcome the month of Rocktober?

The mountain is always watching 👀👀

For those competing in PEI, good luck and good curling.

And, ICYMI, presales are now open for the 2025 Curling Cares calendar.

Team Carey's Karlee Burgess is on the cover and shared a bit of her story with why she is raising funds for Movement Centre of Manitoba. You can read all about it HERE.