Homan Extends Record with 20th Grand Slam Title at KIOTI GSOC Tahoe
Canada's Rachel Homan secured her 20th Grand Slam of Curling title, extending her record by defeating Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni 7-4 in the final of the KIOTI GSOC Tahoe event on Sunday.
Dominance of Top Ranked Teams
This final marked the third straight Grand Slam women's final featuring the world's top two ranked teams, with Homan's team winning all three encounters.
Team Performance and Prize
The Ottawa-based team, consisting of Rachel Homan, third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, and lead Sarah Wilkes, achieved a flawless 7-0 record throughout the tournament, earning $42,000 from the prize pool.
"Yeah, it's an unbelievable feeling, especially winning a game that was a battle out there for both teams," Homan said. "It's just really fun to play such an amazing team, and being able to pull out the win is an awesome feeling."
Tirinzoni’s Team Record and Outcome
The Swiss team, including Tirinzoni, fourth Alina Pätz, second Carole Howald, and lead Selina Witschonke, saw their only loss of the week in this final, taking home $34,000.
Tirinzoni's squad holds an 18-3 record in the current Grand Slam season, with all three defeats coming against Homan in finals.
Final Match Highlights
The Swiss team started with the hammer, aiming to avoid a repeat of last month’s CO-OP Tour Challenge where a first-end hit and rollout resulted in a costly four-point steal by Homan.
Homan's continued success affirms her team as the top force in women's curling.
Author's summary: Rachel Homan's Ottawa club extended their dominance with a flawless win over Switzerland's Tirinzoni, marking a record 20th Grand Slam title and reinforcing their position atop women's curling.