It's Been Decided: Homan vs. Hasselborg in the final
The KIOTI National women’s curling final will see two of the sport's top teams face off: Canada’s Rachel Homan and Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg. Both teams are undefeated heading into the championship game, with 6-0 records. Homan’s path to the final was anything but easy, needing extra ends to secure narrow wins over Japan’s Sayaka Yoshimura and South Korea’s Eun-jung Kim in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Despite struggling with early rock handling, Homan’s team rallied through a series of tense moments, ultimately making key shots when it mattered most. On the other hand, Hasselborg’s team has also been playing strong, defeating Canada’s Christina Black and Kerri Einarson in overtime and dominating in the semifinal against Einarson. For Hasselborg, this final marks her return to the Grand Slam after a successful 2022 season.
Rachel Homan, with a remarkable 39-2 season record, is aiming for her 16th Grand Slam title, having already secured her 15th earlier this month at the Co-op Canadian Open. In contrast, Anna Hasselborg, who did not compete in the Canadian Open, is seeking her first Grand Slam victory in over two years. Hasselborg’s team has shown resilience, especially after a disappointing silver medal finish at the European Championships, and will be eager to claim a major win after a long absence from finals. This upcoming final will be a showdown between two top-tier skips who have been rivals for over a decade, making the game even more intriguing.
On the men’s side, Scotland’s Team Bruce Mouat is aiming for a third consecutive Grand Slam title, having won both the 2023 HearingLife Tour Challenge and the Co-op Canadian Open. Mouat, who also earned silver at the European Championships, advanced to the final with a dominant 5-1 record, including a 7-2 victory over Team Mike McEwen in the quarterfinals. Mouat has been playing well despite feeling fatigued, and he will look to maintain his strong form in the final. His opponent will be Canada’s Team Brad Jacobs, who reached the final after a thrilling semifinal victory over Team Ross Whyte. Jacobs, who has been playing with a newly formed team after switching skips, is looking for his first Grand Slam title.
Jacobs and his team, featuring Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, are building confidence after a series of difficult transitions this season. Jacobs, who left his former team to join this new quartet, has been adjusting to his new role and feels the team is close to a breakthrough. With a perfect 6-0 record, Jacobs will have the advantage of the hammer to start the final, a strategic edge that could prove crucial in such a tight contest. Mouat, however, will look to counteract this by applying pressure early and trying to flip the hammer in his favor. Both teams are playing at a high level, and the final promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the Grand Slam event.
