 Scotland's Bruce Mouat (Photo: Grand Slam of Curling) defeated Manitoba's Matt Dunstone 5-2 to claim the Co-op Tor Challenge title in Nisku, Alberta, at the Silent Ice Centre. By Connor Simms, #1 World-Ranked Bruce with Grant Hardie at third, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan Jr. on the front end continue to prove why they are the world's best. They have already played in four events this season. They won the Euro Super Series, then had semi-final finishes at the Baden Masters and the AMJ Masters. This week, they were at the Co-op Tour Challenge, looking to keep their title as they defeated Newfoundland and Labrador's Brad Gushue in last season's Tour Challenge final. Mouat finished 3-1 in the 16-team qualifying round. In their opening game, Mouat defeated Kevin Koe (Calgary, AB) 6-4, then won 7-3 against Marc Muskatewitz (Füssen, GER) and 9-4 against Korey Dropkin (Duluth, MN). Mouat went on to lose 5-3 against Italy's Joel Retornaz in their final qualifying round match. In the quarterfinals, Mouat defeated Gushue 9-3, then went on to beat Retornaz in their rematch in the semi-final 5-2. This set up a match with Manitoba's Matt Dunstone in the final. Dunstone also went 3-1 through the round robin. In their opening game, Dunstone defeated Rylan Kleiter (Saskatoon, SK) 8-3, then won 7-2 against Marco Hoesli (Glarus, SUI) and 6-3 against Edin. Dunstone went on to lose 9-5 against Gushue in their final qualifying round match. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Sweden's Niklas Edin 7-2, then defeated Northern Ontario's John Epping 6-5 in the semi-final. Mouat won the opening game, drawing to the button for the hammer. In the first end, it looked like a force, but Mouat made a highlight reel draw through a port to get their deuce. Dunstone was forced in the second, making a lightweight tap. After a blank in the fourth end, Mouat found another deuce, making the lightweight hit and stick. Dunstone saw their first opportunity for a possible three, but overcurled and jammed Mouat's stone, giving up a steal of one. After a blank in the sixth, Dunstone was unable to generate a multiple, resulting in them taking one, then shaking hands, giving Mouat the 5-2 victory. This marks Mouat's 11th Grand Slam of Curling title. He is one of the only skips to win that many titles with the same team. It also marks this team's sixth title in the last two years, winning four last season. Mouat's next event will be the Kioti National in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, from November 4th-9th. |
A five at the opening end of their first-ever match together in a major international competition sent Katie McMillan and Angus Bryce on their way to a dominant victory over the USA at the ACE & Company World Mixed Doubles Championships in Geneva.
