1 week Ago By Jonathan Brazeau
TORONTO — Now this is what it's like when worlds collide. Are you ready to go? For the first time in the history of the AMJ Players' Championship, both finals will be rematches of the world championship gold medal games. Canada's Team Rachel Homan will face Switzerland's Team Silvana Tirinzoni for the women's title, with Scotland's Team Bruce Mouat meeting Switzerland's Team Yannick Schwaller on the men's side Sunday in the Grand Slam of Curling season finale at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Homan defeated South Korea's Team Eun-jung Kim 9-3 and Tirinzoni downed Sweden's Team Anna Hasselborg 12-3 during Saturday night's semifinals. Mouat eliminated Canada's Team Brad Jacobs 6-2 to advance and Schwaller ousted Canada's Team Matt Dunstone 7-5. Homan has topped Tirinzoni in the past two finals at the women's worlds.
The record 17-time Grand Slam women's champion Homan is seeking a first at the AMJ Players' Championship to become just the second women's skip to win every title in the series. Tirinzoni will be playing in the AMJ Players' Championship for a third consecutive season. She lost to Sweden's Team Isabella Wranå in 2023 and turned the tables when they clashed again last year.
Meanwhile, Mouat seeks a record fourth Grand Slam title in a single season after opening with three straight wins at the HearingLife Tour Challenge, Co-op Canadian Open and WFG Masters. The streak was snapped at the WFG Masters, with a loss to Jacobs in the semifinals. Mouat's compatriot Ross Whyte skipped his squad past Jacobs in the final there, and Mouat can complete an unprecedented Scottish sweep in the series.
Schwaller reached the AMJ Players' Championship men's final for the second time in three seasons and is hungry to win his first title in the series. Mouat edged Schwaller 5-4 for gold at the men's worlds last Sunday in Moose Jaw, Sask. Both teams made the trek straight to Toronto, with Mouat getting a head start in the event by taking on Homan in the first Rio Mare Battle of the Sexes charity skins game.
Mouat raised $10,000 for Charlie Boy's Cancer Fundraiser, and Homan earned $2,000 for the Sandra Schmirler Foundation. Mouat also beat Schwaller 7-5 when they squared off in round-robin play Wednesday. The women's final kicks off Champions Sunday at noon ET / 9 a.
m. PT, followed by the men's final at 4:30 p.m.
ET / 1:30 p.m. PT.
Watch both games live on Sportsnet 360 or Sportsnet+..
