Canadian skip Kerri Einarson captured her seventh Grand Slam curling title on Sunday, defeating South Korea's Team Kang 6-3 at the Co-op Invitational in Victoria. This victory marks the first major championship for Einarson's new-look rink and her first Grand Slam win since 2024.

A dominant performance in Victoria

Einarson and her teammates from Gimli, Man., never trailed during the final match held at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The team, consisting of Shannon Birchard, Karlee Burgess, and Jocelyn Peterman, secured a $38,000 prize purse for the win.

Key highlights from the final included:

  • Einarson scored singles in the first two ends to take an early lead.
  • A crucial runback shot in the fourth end allowed Einarson to score two points after a missed initial attempt.
  • The Canadian squad secured a final deuce in the sixth end to seal the victory.

Team Kang was led by skip Kyeong-ae Kim, as regular skip Kang Bo-bae focused on mixed doubles this season.

Understanding the new team structure

This victory serves as a successful launch for the new squad at the start of a new Olympic cycle. While Einarson and Birchard are seasoned veterans, the win marks the second Grand Slam title for Burgess and Peterman. Einarson demonstrated high precision during the match, recording an 87 per cent ace percentage.

For Birchard, this victory marks her fifth Grand Slam title, though she missed the team's 2024 Tour Challenge win due to injury. The team's performance was particularly notable as they were the only Canadian women's team to qualify for the playoffs in this event.

What is next for the Grand Slam tour?

The Co-op Invitational opened a shortened schedule of five Grand Slam events, all of which are set to wrap up before Christmas this season. The next stop is the Masters in Medicine Hat, Alta., running from Nov. 3-8.

FAQ

When is the next Grand Slam event?

The next stop on the tour is the Masters, which will take place in Medicine Hat, Alta., from November 3-8.

How many Grand Slam titles has Einarson won?

This victory represents the seventh Grand Slam of Curling championship for Kerri Einarson.