Canada’s Brad Jacobs emerged victorious in the men’s Pan Continental Curling Championship by defeating John Schuster of the United States with a score of 7-3 on Sunday. The competition serves as a regional qualifier for the 2026 men’s and women’s world championships.
Jacobs, part of the team that secured a bronze medal at the 2025 world championship in April, needed to rank among the top four teams to secure a spot for Canada in next year’s championship in Ogden City, Utah. The team, consisting of Jacobs, Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert from Calgary’s Glencoe Club, managed to surpass this requirement by clinching a steal of two points in the 10th end, securing the victory over Schuster.
The Canadian team displayed an unbeaten performance in Virginia, Minn., earning Canada its third gold medal in four years, following Brad Gushue’s victories in 2022 and 2023. Jacobs expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It’s always great to throw the Maple Leaf on, and it makes you a little bit more hungry and motivated to go and try to wear it again.”
Following their success, Jacobs and his team are set to participate in the Kioti Grand Slam of Curling Tahoe event in California starting on November 4. They will also be among the eight men’s teams contending in Halifax from November 22-30 at the Montana’s Canadian Trials for a chance to represent Canada in the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy in February.
Looking ahead, Jacobs and his team are preparing to defend their Canadian title at the Brier in St. John’s from February 27 to March 8. The Pan Continental competition provided them with valuable experience against international opponents, with team member Gallant emphasizing the importance of performing well in finals.
In the women’s category, Canada’s Rachel Homan faced a 7-6 defeat against Rui Wang of China in the gold-medal game. Despite showcasing remarkable shots, including a perfect split and double takeout, Canada fell short as Wang’s strategic play secured the win for China.
Homan reflected on the loss, acknowledging the team’s fatigue following a series of recent competitions. Despite the setback, she commended her team’s resilience and performance throughout the tournament. South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim secured the bronze medal, while Canada is already guaranteed a spot in the 2026 women’s world championship as the host nation.
The Pan Continental competition, initiated four years ago as a counterpart to the European championship, will come to an end due to World Curling’s expansion of championship fields and the introduction of a B championship for promotion and relegation. The European championship will continue as a standalone event.