The field has been finalized for the 2020 Meridian Canadian Open, returning Jan. 14-19 to the Gallagher Centre in Yorkton, Sask.
The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling announced Tuesday the full lineup of 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams for its fourth event and third major of the 2019-20 season.
Teams were invited based on both the WCF World Team Ranking total and year-to-date lists. One spot in each division was reserved for the KIOTI Tractor Tour Challenge Tier 2 winners. Team Korey Dropkin and Team Min-ji Kim won the titles in Pictou County, N.S., in November receiving promotions into the top tier with airfare and accommodations provided for the four players on each team.
A $300,000 combined purse, split equally between the men’s and women’s divisions, is on the line. Winners cash in $35,000 plus berth towards the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup in Olds, Alta. Points are also up for grabs towards the Pinty’s Cup, which is the season championship in the series and awarded following the conclusion of the Players’ Championship.
The Meridian Canadian Open features a triple knockout preliminary round where teams must win three games before they lose three games in order to qualify for the playoffs. Eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams will advance to the quarterfinals. The opening round of matches will be set in the near future.
Yorkton hosted the event in 2014 and 2015. Team Brendan Bottcher and Team Rachel Homan are the defending champions picking up the titles last season in North Battleford, Sask.
Broadcast coverage of the 2020 Meridian Canadian Open begins Thursday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and streaming online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) or Yare (international).
The series just wrapped up its third event of the season, the Boost National, in Conception Bay South, N.L. Team Brad Jacobs beat Team Niklas Edin 3-1 in the men’s final and Team Hasselborg downed Team Jennifer Jones 7-3 for the women’s title Sunday. It was the second consecutive GSOC titles this season for Jacobs and Hasselborg, who also captured the KIOTI Tractor Tour Challenge Tier 1 titles last month.
Meridian Canadian Open men’s teams
| Team | Hometown |
| Team Brendan Bottcher | Edmonton, AB |
| Team Peter de Cruz | Geneva, SUI |
| Team Korey Dropkin | Chaska, USA |
| Team Matt Dunstone | Regina, SK |
| Team Niklas Edin | Karlstad, SWE |
| Team John Epping | Toronto, ON |
| Team Jason Gunnlaugson | Winnipeg, MB |
| Team Brad Gushue | St. John’s, NL |
| Team Glenn Howard | Penetanguishene, ON |
| Team Brad Jacobs | Sault Ste. Marie, ON |
| Team Kevin Koe | Calgary, AB |
| Team Mike McEwen | Winnipeg, MB |
| Team Bruce Mouat | Edinburgh, SCO |
| Team Kirk Muyres | Saskatoon, SK |
| Team Ross Paterson | Glasgow, SCO |
| Team Yannick Schwaller | Bern, SUI |
Meridian Canadian Open women’s teams
| Team | Hometown |
| Team Chelsea Carey | Calgary, AB |
| Team Kerri Einarson | Gimli, MB |
| Team Tracy Fleury | East St. Paul, MB |
| Team Satsuki Fujisawa | Kitami, JPN |
| Team Anna Hasselborg | Sundbyberg, SWE |
| Team Rachel Homan | Ottawa, ON |
| Team Jennifer Jones | Winnipeg, MB |
| Team Min-ji Kim | Chuncheon, KOR |
| Team Alina Kovaleva | Saint Petersburg, RUS |
| Team Eve Muirhead | Stirling, SCO |
| Team Kelsey Rocque | Edmonton, AB |
| Team Nina Roth | McFarland, USA |
| Team Elena Stern | Oberwallis, SUI |
| Team Silvana Tirinzoni | Aarau, SUI |
| Team Laura Walker | Edmonton, ON |
| Team Sayaka Yoshimura | Sapporo, JPN |