Submitted. The Masters, the first event of the Grand Slam of Curling series, has announced a star-studded lineup featuring 30 of the best men’s and women’s curling teams in the world on Monday. The international six day event will take place October 29 to November 3 and will feature 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist Team Kevin Martin as well as all of the teams lined up for the Canadian Olympic Trials in December, including, five-time Masters Champions, Team Glenn Howard and Winnipeg’s Team Jeff Stoughton. Last year’s Masters champion Team Koe will also return to defend their title.
On the women’s side, inaugural 2012 Masters Women’s Champion Rachel Homan will return to battle a field including Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones and 2010 Olympic bronze medalist Bingyu Wang from China. The 30 teams will compete in a high-stakes, round robin-style bonspiel featuring a $200,000 purse. The Masters is a World Cup format featuring teams that have earned a birth into the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia and other teams that are hopeful to get there.
Single draw ticket prices start at $15 with single day passes starting at $40 and weekend passes at $80. Tickets can be purchased online at abbotsfordcentre.ca , by phone at 1-866-977-2372, or in person at the AESC Box Office. Full event ticket packages are also available for purchase.
Opening ceremonies for the 2013 Masters will take place Tuesday, October 29th at 7:00pm and will feature the MEI Screaming Eagles Marching Band. The tournament will kick-off with an evening draw featuring Team Martin, Team McEwen and Team Jones among 7 others. A special buy-one, get-one ticket offer will be extended to all purchasers for the Tuesday evening opening ceremonies.
For more information, including a full schedule and list of teams, visit abbotsfordcentre.ca or call the AESC Box Office at 604-743-5027.
ABOUT THE GRAND SLAM OF CURLING
Owned and operated by Sportsnet, the Grand Slam of Curling is an elite series of men’s and women’s curling events which are part of the World Curling Tour and feature the best teams from across Canada and around the world.