Canada’s Brad Jacobs emerged victorious in the men’s Pan Continental Curling Championship, defeating United States’ John Schuster 7-3 in a thrilling final on Sunday. This championship serves as a crucial regional qualifier for countries aiming to secure spots in the upcoming 2026 men’s and women’s world championships.
Having clinched a bronze medal at the 2025 world championship earlier this year, Jacobs and his team, including Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert from Calgary’s Glencoe Club, were determined to secure a top-four finish to guarantee Canada’s participation in next year’s championships in Ogden City, Utah. In an impressive display of skill and determination, the Canadian team sealed their victory with a steal of two points in the 10th end, outplaying Schuster’s team, who had previously led the U.S. to gold at the 2018 Olympic Games.
Maintaining an undefeated record throughout the tournament in Virginia, Minn., Jacobs and his team secured Canada’s third gold medal in four years, following Brad Gushue’s triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Reflecting on their performance, Jacobs expressed pride in representing Canada and their hunger for future success in upcoming competitions.
The next challenge for Jacobs and his team will be the Kioti Grand Slam of Curling Tahoe in California, starting on November 4. Subsequently, they will be among the eight men’s teams competing in Halifax from November 22-30 at the Montana’s Canadian Trials, vying for the opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy, in February.
Looking ahead, Jacobs and his team are gearing up to defend their Canadian title at the Brier in St. John’s from February 27 to March 8, aiming for a return trip to the world championship. They view their participation in the Pan Continental as valuable experience against international opponents, emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities in crucial moments.
On the women’s side, Canada’s Rachel Homan faced a tough loss, falling 7-6 to Rui Wang of China in the gold-medal game. Despite showcasing impressive shots, including a perfect split and double-takeout, the Chinese team’s strategic play proved decisive in securing the victory.
Homan acknowledged the team’s fatigue following a recent Grand Slam event victory, highlighting the learning opportunities from their loss and expressing pride in their resilience throughout the competition. In the women’s bronze-medal game, South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim emerged victorious over Team Tabitha Peterson of the United States.
The Pan Continental Championship, introduced four years ago by World Curling to provide a platform for North American and Asian teams, will be discontinued as World Curling expands championship fields and introduces a B championship for promotion and relegation, signaling a shift in the competition landscape.