The 1993 Seagram's VO Cup, was the first edition of the Players' Championship, the championship tournament for the inaugural season of the World Curling Tour. It was held February 17–21, 1993 at the Calgary Curling Club in Calgary, Alberta. The total purse for the event was $120,000, with the winning team receiving $40,000.
The semifinals and finals were broadcast on TSN.
The event featured the "free guard zone", wherein the first three rocks of an end couldn't be removed if they were in the guard zone. This rule would later be adopted into the official rules of curling.
In an all-Ontario final, Russ Howard of Penetanguishene won his first of two Players' Championships, defeating Paul Savage of Toronto, 8–2.
Qualification The top 30 men's teams on the "V.O. Cup standings" as of December 31, 1992 qualified for the event based on results from Tour events that season, along with the winner of a qualifying event and a sponsor's exemption. Adrian Bakker of Calgary qualified through winning the preliminary event and Tormod Andreassen of Norway was the sponsor's exemption.
V.O. Cup standings Top 30 teams on the V.O. Cup standings, as of January 6, 1993. Struck out teams declined their invitation or were not registered. Teams ranked "x" were substitutes. Rank Skip Locale Points 1 Ed Werenich Toronto, Ontario 323 2 Vic Peters Winnipeg, Manitoba 241 3 Ed Lukowich Calgary, Alberta 233 4 Russ Howard Penetanguishene, Ontario 220 5 Kevin Martin Edmonton, Alberta 170 6 Mark Dacey Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 156 7 Rick Folk Kelowna, British Columbia 123 8 Bryan Derbowka Yorkton, Saskatchewan 122 9 Eugene Hritzuk Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 121 10 John Bubbs Winnipeg, Manitoba 116 Markus Eggler Basel, Switzerland 116 12 Al Hackner Thunder Bay, Ontario 111 13 Harold Breckenridge Calgary, Alberta 95 14 David Smith 90 15 Kerry Burtnyk Winnipeg, Manitoba 86 Eigil Ramsfjell 86 17 Lorne Campbell Peace River, Alberta 84 18 Ron Gauthier Winnipeg, Manitoba 81 19 Rob Ewen Jansen, Saskatchewan 77 20 Jeff Ryan Winnipeg, Manitoba 75 Arnold Anderson Shellbrook, Saskatchewan 75 22 Brent Giles Vancouver, British Columbia 67 Mike Harris Toronto, Ontario 67 24 Jim Armstrong Vancouver, British Columbia 58 Rob Schlender Leduc, Alberta 58 26 Jim Sharples Toronto, Ontario 57 27 Paul Savage Toronto, Ontario 56 Brad Heidt Kerrobert, Saskatchewan 56 29 Mike Vavrek Grande Prairie, Alberta 53 Rick Lang Thunder Bay, Ontario 53 X Mickey Pendergast Calgary, Alberta 49 John Base Oakville, Ontario 45 Don Walchuk Edmonton, Alberta 45
After further drop outs, Doran Johnson of Lethbridge, Alberta, Bill Adams of Thunder Bay and Ron Mills of Saskatoon were invited to play, replacing Folk, Armstrong and Vavrek.
Qualifying event One team qualified by winning the Acadia Recreational Complex cash bonspiel. The event was held at the Acadia Recreational Complex from January 29-31, in Calgary, and came with a purse of $10,500, and a top prize of $3,000. The winning team of Adrian Bakker, Jim Lautner, Ron Riggall and Scott Rankin of Calgary won the event, defeating Ken McLean of Regina, Saskatchewan in the final.
Knockout rounds The scores were as follows:
A event
B Event
C Event
Playoffs
Quarter-finals
Semifinals
Final
References