Rachel Homan Wins Record 20th Grand Slam Title at KIOTI GSOC Tahoe
Canada's Rachel Homan secured her record-extending 20th Grand Slam of Curling title by defeating Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni 7-4 in Sunday's final at the KIOTI GSOC Tahoe. This marks the third consecutive Grand Slam women's final between the world's top-ranked teams, with Homan emerging victorious each time.
Homan's Ottawa-based team—comprising third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, and lead Sarah Wilkes—finished the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record, earning $42,000 from the prize purse.
"Yeah, it's an unbelievable feeling, especially winning a game that was a battle out there for both teams. It's just really fun to play such an amazing team, and being able to pull out the win is an awesome feeling."
The final was the only loss for Tirinzoni's team—featuring fourth Alina Pätz, second Carole Howald, and lead Selina Witschonke—this week, as they took home $34,000. Tirinzoni now holds an 18-3 record in the Grand Slam of Curling this season, with all three losses coming against Homan in finals.
The Swiss squad started with the hammer but were unable to avoid a repeat of last month's CO-OP Tour Challenge, where a hit and rollout in the first end led to a major steal of four points for Homan.
Author's Summary
Rachel Homan's latest triumph cements her legacy as the most decorated player in Grand Slam of Curling history, showcasing her team's dominance and resilience against the world's best.