Wikipedia

1999 Players' Championship

The 1999 GMC World Curling Tour Players' Championship, the championship of the men's World Curling Tour (WCT) for the 1998-99 curling season was held March 17–21, 1999 at the Max Bell Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[2] The total purse for the event was $150,000[3] with $20,000 going to the winning team, plus $1,000 per win and $250 per loss.[4]

1999 GMC WCT Players' Championship
Host cityWinnipeg, Manitoba
ArenaMax Bell Centre
DatesMarch 17–21
Attendance18,045[1]
WinnerOntario Team Middaugh
Curling clubSt. George's G&CC, Etobicoke
SkipWayne Middaugh
ThirdGraeme McCarrel
SecondIan Tetley
LeadScott Bailey
FinalistOntario Russ Howard
« 1998
2000 »

Ontario's Team Wayne Middaugh went undefeated en route to Middaugh's third tour championship title, and second as a skip. The team defeated the Russ Howard rink (also from Ontario, but with Howard living in New Brunswick) in the final, 9–5. The victory was helped by a three-ender in the third after Howard missed both of his draws, giving Middaugh an easy draw to take a 4–2 lead up to that point. In the fifth, Howard attempted to tie the game with a tap-back for two, but his rock hit a guard, resulting in a steal of one for Middaugh, who took a 5–2 lead.[5] Middaugh did not look back from there. With the win, he took home $25,000 for the week, and Howard won $19,250.[2]

The event was well attended, with over 18,000 spectators in total, a record for the WCT at that point. It was said more people were turned away from the sold-out final than had attended the entire event in 1997, which was held at Winnipeg's Granite Club.[1]

Games were played in eight ends, instead of the usual ten so that all the games could fit into the schedule to accommodate the playoffs, which would be shown on television. This drew criticism from some of the teams, who preferred 10 ends.[6] The semifinals were shown on CTV Sportsnet, and the final was shown on CTV. The semis and the final were played in 10 ends.[7]

Teams

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The event included the top 20 teams in the world, plus three European teams. Sweden's Peja Lindholm rink was the sponsor's exemption, after Mike Harris turned it down. Another notable missing team was Ed Werenich.[4]

The teams were as follows:[8]

Skip Third Second Lead Locale[6]
Kerry Burtnyk[a] Jeff Ryan Rob Meakin Keith Fenton   Winnipeg, Manitoba
Dale Duguid Doran Johnson[10] Shane Park Merv Bodnarchuk   Vancouver, British Columbia
Markus Eggler[11] Andy Schwaller Andreas Östreich Damian Grichting   Biel, Switzerland
David Nedohin Randy Ferbey (skip) Scott Pfeifer Carter Rycroft   Edmonton, Alberta
Doug Harcourt Kevin Kalthoff Greg Harcourt Brian Wempe   Quill Lake, Saskatchewan
Jeff Hartung Dean Klippenstine Marty Derbowka Bob Hartung   Langenburg, Saskatchewan
Brad Heidt Eugene Hritzuk Wes Cowlishaw Dale Hannon   Kerrobert, Saskatchewan
Guy Hemmings Pierre Charette Guy Thibaudeau Dale Ness   Montreal, Quebec
Russ Howard Glenn Howard Peter Corner Neil Harrison   Midland, Ontario
Bruce Korte Darrell McKee Roger Korte Rory Golanowski   Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Peja Lindholm[b] Tomas Nordin Magnus Swartling Peter Narup   Östersund, Sweden
Kevin Martin Don Walchuk Rudy Ramcharan Don Bartlett   Edmonton, Alberta
Greg McAulay Brent Pierce Bryan Miki Darin Fenton   Vancouver, British Columbia
Wayne Middaugh Graeme McCarrel Ian Tetley Scott Bailey   Toronto, Ontario
Rich Moffatt Howard Rajala Chris Fulton Paul Madden   Ottawa, Ontario
Frank Morissette Mickey Pendergast Kevin Pendergast Eugene Doherty   Calgary, Alberta
Mark Olson Neil Patterson Dave Leclair Paul Kelly   Winnipeg, Manitoba
Vic Peters Dave Smith Chris Neufeld Don Harvey   Winnipeg, Manitoba
Pat Ryan Jay Peachey Jamie Smith Kevin MacKenzie   Kelowna, British Columbia
Brent Scales Ken Tresoor Doug Harrison Grant Spicer   Swan River, Manitoba
Gerald Shymko Gerry Adam Arnie Geisler Neil Cursons   Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Warwick Smith Hammy McMillan Ewan MacDonald Peter Loudon   Inverness, Scotland
Don Spriggs Dean Moxham Dale Michie Rick Blight   Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Jeff Stoughton Jon Mead Garry Vandenberghe Doug Armstrong   Winnipeg, Manitoba

Round-robin standings

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The top two teams in each pool advanced to the playoffs.

Final round-robin standings[12]

Key
Teams to Playoffs
Teams to Tiebreakers
M&M Meat Shops Division W L
  Russ Howard 4 1
  Mark Olson 4 1
  Bruce Korte 3 2
  Gerald Shymko 2 3
  Kevin Martin 2 3
  Don Spriggs 0 5
Molson Division W L
  Wayne Middaugh 5 0
  Rich Moffatt 3 2
  Team Nedohin 3 2
  Doug Harcourt 2 3
  Markus Eggler 1 4
  Jeff Hartung 1 4
Bell Express Vu Division W L
  Jeff Stoughton 4 1
  Guy Hemmings 3 2
  Team McMillan 3 2
  Pat Ryan 3 2
  Frank Morissette 1 4
  Brent Scales 1 4
Canadian Airlines Division W L
  Kerry Burtnyk 4 1
  Vic Peters 4 1
  Dale Duguid 3 2
  Brad Heidt 3 2
  Peja Lindholm 1 4
  Greg McAulay 0 5

Scores

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Scores were as follows:[13][14][15]

Draw 1

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  • Howard 6, Spriggs 3
  • Shymko 5, Martin 4
  • Olson 4, Korte 2
  • Moffatt 3, Hartung 2
  • Duguid 5, Peters 4

Draw 2

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  • Hemmings 7, Scales 3
  • Eggler 5, Harcourt 4
  • Middaugh 5, Nedohin 4
  • Morissette 8, McMillan 5
  • Stoughton 6, Ryan 3

Draw 3

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  • Burtnyk 5, Heidt 4
  • Lindholm 8, McAulay 7
  • Shymko 6, Spriggs 5
  • Martin 6, Korte 4
  • Howard 7, Olson 6

Draw 4

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  • Stoughton 6, Morissette 4
  • Hemmings 5, Ryan 4
  • McMillan 4, Scales 1
  • Nedohin 6, Harcourt 4
  • Middaugh 7, Hartung 1

Draw 5

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  • Moffatt 5, Eggler 4
  • Peters 6, Heidt 5
  • Burtnyk 6, Lindholm 3
  • Duguid 6, McAulay 5
  • Korte 6, Spriggs 2

Draw 6

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  • Olson 6, Martin 4
  • Howard 4, Shymko 1
  • Hemmings 7, Morissette 5
  • Ryan 6, Scales 1
  • McMillan 6, Stoughton 2

Draw 7

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  • Harcourt 5, Hartung 2
  • Middaugh 6, Moffatt 5
  • Nedohin 5, Eggler 3
  • Peters 6, Lindholm 4
  • Burtnyk 8, McAulay 4

Draw 8

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  • Heidt 9, Duguid 4
  • Olson 8, Spriggs 5
  • Howard 6, Martin 4
  • Korte 9, Shymko 5
  • Scales 6, Morissette 4

Draw 9

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  • Ryan 4, McMillan 3
  • Stoughton 6, Hemmings 3
  • Harcourt 5, Moffatt 4
  • Middaugh 8, Eggler 2
  • Nedohin 7, Hartung 2

Draw 10

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  • Peters 6, McAulay 4
  • Burtnyk 5, Duguid 3
  • Heidt 8, Lindholm 3
  • Martin 8, Spriggs 3
  • Olson 5, Shymko 2

Draw 11

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  • Moffatt 5, Nedohin 2
  • Hartung 7, Eggler 3
  • Ryan 7, Morissette 6
  • McMillan 6, Hemmings 1
  • Middaugh 6, Harcourt 2

Draw 12

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  • Korte 6, Howard 5
  • Heidt 7, McAulay 5
  • Stoughton 7, Scales 1
  • Peters 6, Burtnyk 5
  • Duguid 7, Lindholm 5

Tiebreakers

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Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Final
  Pat Ryan 1 0 1 0 3 0 2 X 7
  Hammy McMillan 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 X 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Final
  Rich Moffatt 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 3
  Team Nedohin 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Final
  Guy Hemmings 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 5
  Pat Ryan 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3

Playoffs

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Quarterfinals[16] Semifinals Finals
         
  Wayne Middaugh 9
  Guy Hemmings 7
  Wayne Middaugh 10
  Jeff Stoughton 5
  Jeff Stoughton 8
  Team Nedohin 4
  Wayne Middaugh 9
  Russ Howard 5
  Vic Peters 8
  Kerry Burtnyk 5
  Vic Peters 4
  Russ Howard 6
  Russ Howard 8
  Mark Olson 7

Semifinals

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March 20[17]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Russ Howard 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 X 6
  Vic Peters 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 X 4
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Wayne Middaugh 2 0 2 0 3 0 3 X X X 10
  Jeff Stoughton 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 X X X 5

Final

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March 21[18]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Final
  Russ Howard 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 X 5
  Wayne Middaugh 1 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 2 X 9

Notes

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  1. ^ Team not listed in source. Roster as of Feb 1999.[9]
  2. ^ Team not listed in source. Roster as of the 1998 European Curling Championships

References

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  1. ^ a b "Tour coming of age". Winnipeg Sun. March 22, 1999. p. 40. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "He's the cashspiel king". Winnipeg Sun. March 22, 1999. p. 40. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "B.C.'s trio has just one win after four draws". Vancouver Sun. March 18, 1999. p. F5. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Brier warmup for WCT champ". Winnipeg Sun. March 12, 1999. p. 66. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  5. ^ "Middaugh red-hot in Winnipeg". Calgary Herald. March 22, 1999. p. 49. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "WCT squeezes games into eight ends". Winnipeg Sun. March 17, 1999. p. 54. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Going for high dough". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. March 18, 1999. p. 17. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "WCT Players' Championship -- Teams". CurlingZone. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "There are no losers in chase for Heart". Winnipeg Sun. February 15, 1999. p. 31. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Curling's travellin' man". Winnipeg Sun. March 19, 1999. p. 70. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "'Win one game'". Winnipeg Sun. March 17, 1999. p. 54. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "World Curling Players Championship". Edmonton Journal. March 20, 1999. p. 41. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  13. ^ "Curling". Calgary Herald. March 18, 1999. p. 48. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "Curling". Calgary Herald. March 19, 1999. p. 82. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  15. ^ "Curling". Calgary Herald. March 20, 1999. p. 13. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "Stoughton squares off with world champ". Winnipeg Sun. March 20, 1999. p. 62. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "Saturday". Calgary Herald. March 21, 1999. p. 7. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "World Tour Players Championship". Calgary Herald. March 22, 1999. p. 54. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
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