Rama, ON (January 17, 2010-TSN) – The reigning World champion has done it again. Scotland’s David Murdoch won the Casino Rama Curling Skins Game presented by Pokerstars.net and $70,500 this afternoon by shutting out defending champ Randy Ferbey, live on TSN. The Final and both Semifinals are available on-demand at TSN.ca.
Murdoch’s debut was a memorable one, defeating Canadian Olympian Kevin Martin to reach the Final and then beating defending Skins Game champion Randy Ferbey to claim the title. Murdoch’s prize money includes $42,000 from today’s final, $13,500 from yesterday’s Semifinal where he defeated Martin, and a $15,000 bonus for winning the entire tournament. As the winner, Murdoch is guaranteed an invitation to next year’s event.
Game summary
First End
Murdoch opened the game the way he left off in the Semifinal last night, executing an impressive raise double takeout with the hammer to lie four and take the first skin for a $2,000 lead.
Second End
Murdoch came away with a steal of another $2,000 after Team Ferbey’s Wayne Middaugh was not able to convert a difficult shot with the hammer.
Third End
With the hammer again in the third end, Team Ferbey had a stone on the button for shot rock with Murdoch sitting second shot just inches away. Middaugh again needed a tricky hit and roll with the last rock to score two but came up just short, resulting in the game’s first carry-over.
Fourth End
Ferbey forced Murdoch into playing for another carry-over, making the fifth end worth three skins and $10,000.
Fifth End
Murdoch had two well-guarded stones in the four-foot leaving Team Ferbey with a difficult shot to claim shot rock. Middaugh was unable to convert with the hammer giving Murdoch another three skins and a commanding $14,000-$0 lead.
Sixth End
With Murdoch lying three in the four-foot, Ferbey needed a triple takeout to force a carry-over but again came up short leaving Murdoch with shot stone and a steal of $6,000.
Seventh End
Leading by $20,000 in the seventh end with $9,000 on the line, Murdoch had the chance to put the game out of reach and take the $15,000 bonus for winning the event. Once again lying three, Murdoch could only watch as Middaugh hit and stuck to be shot rock. The carry-over kept Ferbey’s hopes alive and set up an exciting eighth end worth a total of $37,000, enough for either team to claim the title.
Eighth End
With $37,000 and the title of 2010 Casino Rama Curling Skins Game champion at stake, Wayne Middaugh threw a perfect draw and freeze to sit shot rock on the button with Team Ferbey’s final stone. Then, as he’s done all weekend, David Murdoch came through with yet another brilliant shot to remove the Ferbey stone and lie two to complete the shutout and claim the $37,000 as well as the championship.
Ferbey takes home a total of $14,000 from the weekend.
In yesterday’s Semifinal #1, Ferbey came away with three Skins and $14,000, defeating Glenn Howard who won five Skins worth $7,000. In Semifinal #2, also played yesterday, Murdoch pocketed $13,500 for five Skins on his way to a win over Kevin Martin, who won $7,500 plus a $1,000 bonus for winning the pre-tournament draw-to-the-button competition.