Brad Jacobs of Canada emerged victorious in the men’s Pan Continental Curling Championship by defeating John Schuster of the United States with a score of 7-3. The event serves as a regional qualifying tournament for the upcoming 2026 world championships in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Jacobs, along with his team members Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, secured a spot for Canada in the 2026 championships by finishing among the top four teams. They sealed their win with a steal of two points in the 10th end against Schuster, who led the U.S. to a gold medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
The Canadian team, hailing from Calgary’s Glencoe Club, remained unbeaten throughout the competition held in Virginia, Minn., claiming Canada’s third gold in four years following Brad Gushue’s victories in 2022 and 2023.
After their success at the Pan Continental, Jacobs and his team are gearing up for the Kioti Grand Slam of Curling Tahoe event in California, starting on November 4. Subsequently, they will compete in the Montana’s Canadian Trials in Halifax, vying for the opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy, in February.
Looking ahead, Jacobs is set to defend his Brier title in St. John’s, aiming for another shot at the world championship. The team viewed the Pan Continental as valuable experience against international opponents, with Gallant emphasizing the importance of performing well under pressure in finals.
On the women’s side, Canada’s Rachel Homan faced a tough loss to Rui Wang of China in the gold-medal match. Despite showcasing skillful shots, including a perfect split by Tracy Fleury and a double-takeout by Homan, China’s strategic play ultimately secured them the victory.
Homan acknowledged the team’s fatigue following a busy schedule, expressing pride in their performance despite the challenges faced. The team will focus on learning from their losses and making improvements for future competitions.
In the women’s bronze-medal game, South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim triumphed over Team Tabitha Peterson of the United States. Canada’s assured berth in the 2026 women’s world championship as the host country highlights the nation’s strong presence in the curling world.
The Pan Continental event, introduced by World Curling four years ago to bridge North American and Asian participation, is set to conclude due to changes in championship structures. The European championship will continue independently as World Curling expands and evolves its competitions.
