Kevin Martin will get another shot at reigning World Champion David Murdoch as four of the world’s top curlers take to the ice and go head-to-head with $100,000 (Cdn) up for grabs at the third annual Casino Rama Curling Skins Game Presented by POKERSTARS.NET this weekend on TSN. The made-for-TV original TSN production airs in three, three-hour broadcasts airing Saturday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET and on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. ET on TSN. All games will also be made available on-demand at TSN.ca following the conclusion of each live broadcast.
The first draw, on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. ET, is a rematch of last year’s final with defending Skins champion Randy Ferbey taking on Midland’s Glenn Howard. Ferbey defeated Howard last year in an exciting final that came down to some last minute heroics in the final end.
The second draw on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. ET features a highly-anticipated rematch of last year’s World Championship as well as a potential Vancouver 2010 gold medal preview. Canadian Kevin Martin looks for redemption after losing three times to Scotland’s David Murdoch in as many draws at the World Championship, including the championship final. Martin and Murdoch will also face each other this February when they compete at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The Casino Rama Curling Skins Game is coming off a highly successful 2009 event in which Randy Ferbey defeated Glenn Howard in a dramatic final to win the title and $70,000, bringing Ferbey’s career TSN Skins winnings to $168,300 (all figures Cdn).
Casino Rama has once again built a curling rink exclusively for this event in its 5,000-seat world-class Entertainment Centre. Hans Wuthrich, renowned icemaker for the Tournament of Hearts, Brier and World Championships and head technician of the curling sheets at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter games, has been brought in to ensure the playing surface meets Canadian Curling Association (CCA) standards.
TSN’s esteemed curling broadcast team will call the action from Casino Rama, with Vic Rauter handling play-by-play duties alongside analyst and former Brier champion Ray Turnbull and analyst and Olympic gold medalist Linda Moore. This year marks the final Skins Game broadcast for Ray Turnbull, who will retire at the end of the 2010 curling season.
Broadcast Schedule on TSN
* Saturday, Jan. 16 – Semifinal #1: Ferbey vs. Howard at 1 p.m. ET
* Saturday, Jan. 16 – Semifinal #2: Martin vs. Murdoch at 8 p.m. ET
* Sunday, Jan. 17 – Final at 1 p.m. ET
The CASINO RAMA CURLING SKINS GAME uses a single-elimination format whereby anything can happen, as the winner is decided by total prize money and not total points. A total cash purse of $100,000 is available to be won over the two day event.