The Grand Slam of Curling is exploring the use of a draw-to-the-button shootout instead of extra ends, but extra ends are being reintroduced in Saskatoon this week. The shootout was initially introduced for the preliminary round and tiebreakers at the AMJ Masters in September, and later expanded to include playoffs at the Co-op Tour Challenge in October and the Kioti GSOC Tahoe in November.
The change led to intense moments in key matches. In the Tour Challenge, Swedish skip Anna Hasselborg drew to the button during a women’s semifinal, but Canada’s Rachel Homan managed to advance by covering the pinhole in Nisku, Alta. In the men’s final in Tahoe, Scotland’s Bruce Mouat narrowly outdrew Canada’s Matt Dunstone by three millimeters.
The decision to implement the shootout was driven by marketing considerations, such as keeping game durations suitable for television broadcasts and introducing a head-to-head element akin to NHL shootouts. While some curlers have expressed mixed opinions about the shootout, extra ends have been reintroduced for tiebreakers and playoffs in Saskatoon, where a dozen teams from nine countries, many of whom are bound for the Olympics, are competing at the HearingLife Canadian Open.
During the round-robin games in Saskatoon, the shootout will still be used to break ties, with playoffs set to commence on Saturday. Jennifer Jones, a world and Olympic champion and member of The Curling Group, emphasized the need to balance player feedback and priorities, acknowledging that some athletes preferred the shootout while others favored extra ends, especially in playoff situations.
Looking ahead, Jones confirmed that extra ends will continue to be part of the format for tiebreakers and playoffs at the upcoming Players’ Championship in Steinbach, Manitoba. The Grand Slam tournaments have a history of pioneering changes in curling, from introducing eight-end games to implementing rules like the guard restriction until after five rocks are delivered.
Jones highlighted the importance of player feedback and experimentation to drive the sport forward, noting that the Grand Slams have consistently embraced innovation. Recent adjustments, such as limiting teams to blanking an end only once per game, have aimed to promote more aggressive play and enhance the spectator experience by making games more dynamic and engaging.
In a separate development, The Curling Group unveiled plans for its Rock League, featuring six international teams with rosters comprising five men and five women, including up to four imports per team. Captained by Rachel Homan and Brad Jacobs, the league will kick off in April in Toronto with a preview season before expanding to a five-week schedule in 2027 across various locations. The Rock League, with a prize purse of $250,000, aims to showcase talent from around the world and provide a platform for top-tier competition.