# 1993 Seagram's VO Cup

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 |
| 10 | Markus Eggler | Basel, Switzerland | 116 |
| 12 | Al Hackner | Thunder Bay, Ontario | 111 |
| 13 | Harold Breckenridge | Calgary, Alberta | 95 |
| 14 | David Smith | Scotland | 90 |
| 15 | Kerry Burtnyk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | 86 |
| 15 | Eigil Ramsfjell | Norway | 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 |
| 20 | Arnold Anderson | Shellbrook, Saskatchewan | 75 |
| 22 | Brent Giles | Vancouver, British Columbia | 67 |
| 22 | Mike Harris | Toronto, Ontario | 67 |
| 24 | Jim Armstrong | Vancouver, British Columbia | 58 |
| 24 | Rob Schlender | Leduc, Alberta | 58 |
| 26 | Jim Sharples | Toronto, Ontario | 57 |
| 27 | Paul Savage | Toronto, Ontario | 56 |
| 27 | Brad Heidt | Kerrobert, Saskatchewan | 56 |
| 29 | Mike Vavrek | Grande Prairie, Alberta | 53 |
| 29 | Rick Lang | Thunder Bay, Ontario | 53 |
| X | Mickey Pendergast | Calgary, Alberta | 49 |
| X | John Base | Oakville, Ontario | 45 |
| X | 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

| First Knockout | First Knockout | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 1 | Qualifier 1 |
| Harold Breckenridge | 7 | | | | | | |
| Tormod Andreassen | 6 | Harold Breckenridge | 8 | | | | |
| Kevin Martin | 7 | Kevin Martin | 7 | | | | |
| Don Walchuk | 6 | | | Harold Breckenridge | 6 | | |
| Russ Howard | 7 | | | Russ Howard | 5 | | |
| Mike Harris | 2 | Russ Howard | 8 | | | | |
| Kerry Burtnyk | 6 | Kerry Burtnyk | 7 | | | | |
| Doran Johnson | 3 | | | | | Harold Breckenridge | 6 |
| Rob Ewen | 7 | | | | | Rob Ewen | 3 |
| Ronald Anderson | 4 | Rob Ewen | 8 | | | | |
| Ed Werenich | 9 | Ed Werenich | 6 | | | | |
| Brad Heidt | 7 | | | Rob Ewen | 11 | | |
| Eugene Hritzuk | 7 | | | Eugene Hritzuk | 4 | | |
| John Base | 6 | Eugene Hritzuk | 7 | | | | |
| Rob Schlender | 7 | Rob Schlender | 4 | | | | |
| Markus Eggler | 6 | | | | | | |
| First Knockout | First Knockout | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 2 | Qualifier 2 |
| Mark Dacey | 7 | | | | | | |
| Adrian Bakker | 3 | Mark Dacey | 10 | | | | |
| Al Hackner | 7 | Al Hackner | 4 | | | | |
| Rick Lang | 5 | | | Mark Dacey | 5 | | |
| Mickey Pendergast | 8 | | | Mickey Pendergast | 2 | | |
| Ed Lukowich | 2 | Mickey Pendergast | 8 | | | | |
| Bill Adams | 8 | Bill Adams | 4 | | | | |
| Lorne Campbell | 5 | | | | | Mark Dacey | 7 |
| Bryan Derbowka | 5 | | | | | Bryan Derbowka | 5 |
| Paul Savage | 4 | Bryan Derbowka | 6 | | | | |
| Brent Giles | 8 | Brent Giles | 4 | | | | |
| John Bubbs | 1 | | | Bryan Derbowka | 5 | | |
| Vic Peters | 9 | | | Vic Peters | 4 | | |
| Jeff Ryan | 7 | Vic Peters | 7 | | | | |
| Ron Mills | 9 | Ron Mills | 4 | | | | |
| Ron Gauthier | 7 | | | | | | |

### B Event

| Second Knockout | Second Knockout | Second Knockout | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 3 | Qualifier 3 | Qualifier 3 |
| Brad Heidt | Brad Heidt | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ronald Anderson | Ronald Anderson | 9 | Kevin Martin | Kevin Martin | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Brad Heidt | Brad Heidt | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Kevin Martin | Kevin Martin | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Kerry Burtnyk | Kerry Burtnyk | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | Kerry Burtnyk | Kerry Burtnyk | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| John Base | John Base | 11 | John Base | John Base | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Markus Eggler | Markus Eggler | 8 | | | | | | | Rob Ewen | Rob Ewen | 7 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Kevin Martin | Kevin Martin | 5 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Rob Ewen | Rob Ewen | 6 |
| Tormod Andreassen | Tormod Andreassen | 5 | | | | | | | | | | Ed Werenich | Ed Werenich | 5 |
| Don Walchuk | Don Walchuk | 4 | Ed Werenich | Ed Werenich | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Tormod Andreassen | Tormod Andreassen | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ed Werenich | Ed Werenich | 7 | | | | | | |
| Doran Johnson | Doran Johnson | 7 | | | | Mickey Pendergast | Mickey Pendergast | 6 | | | | | | |
| Mike Harris | Mike Harris | 3 | Doran Johnson | Doran Johnson | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Rob Schlender | Rob Schlender | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Ed Werenich | Ed Werenich | 7 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Doran Johnson | Doran Johnson | 6 | | | |
| | | | | | | Doran Johnson | Doran Johnson | 8 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Vic Peters | Vic Peters | 6 | | | | | | |
| Second Knockout | Second Knockout | Second Knockout | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 4 | Qualifier 4 | Qualifier 4 |
| Ed Lukowich | Ed Lukowich | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lorne Campbell | Lorne Campbell | 4 | Ed Lukowich | Ed Lukowich | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Brent Giles | Brent Giles | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ed Lukowich | Ed Lukowich | 8 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Russ Howard | Russ Howard | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Ed Lukowich | Ed Lukowich | 10 | | | |
| Adrian Bakker | Adrian Bakker | 10 | | | | | | | Ron Mills | Ron Mills | 2 | | | |
| Rick Lang | Rick Lang | 6 | Ron Mills | Ron Mills | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Adrian Bakker | Adrian Bakker | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ron Mills | Ron Mills | 8 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Eugene Hritzuk | Eugene Hritzuk | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Ed Lukowich | Ed Lukowich | 7 |
| Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 8 | | | | | | | | | | Bill Adams | Bill Adams | 6 |
| John Bubbs | John Bubbs | 3 | Bill Adams | Bill Adams | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Bill Adams | Bill Adams | 9 | | | | | | |
| Ron Gauthier | Ron Gauthier | 6 | | | | Al Hackner | Al Hackner | 0 | | | | | | |
| Jeff Ryan | Jeff Ryan | 5 | Al Hackner | Al Hackner | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Ron Gauthier | Ron Gauthier | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Bill Adams | Bill Adams | 8 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Bryan Derbowka | Bryan Derbowka | 3 | | | |

### C Event

| Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 5 | Qualifier 5 | Qualifier 5 |
| | | | Kerry Burtnyk | Kerry Burtnyk | 7 | | | | | | |
| John Bubbs | John Bubbs | 7 | Tormod Andreassen | Tormod Andreassen | 4 | | | | | | |
| Jeff Ryan | Jeff Ryan | 5 | | | | Kerry Burtnyk | Kerry Burtnyk | 9 | | | |
| | | | | | | Ron Mills | Ron Mills | 8 | | | |
| | | | Mickey Pendergast | Mickey Pendergast | 6 | | | | | | |
| Tormod Andreassen | Tormod Andreassen | 9 | John Bubbs | John Bubbs | 5 | | | | | | |
| Rob Schlender | Rob Schlender | 5 | | | | | | | Kerry Burtnyk | Kerry Burtnyk | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | | Mickey Pendergast | Mickey Pendergast | 4 |
| | | | | | | Mickey Pendergast | Mickey Pendergast | 9 | | | |
| | | | | | | Kevin Martin | Kevin Martin | 5 | | | |
| Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 6 | Qualifier 6 | Qualifier 6 |
| | | | John Base | John Base | 7 | | | | | | |
| | | | Brad Heidt | Brad Heidt | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | John Base | John Base | 10 | | | |
| | | | | | | Vic Peters | Vic Peters | 8 | | | |
| | | | Vic Peters | Vic Peters | 10 | | | | | | |
| Lorne Campbell | Lorne Campbell | 8 | Lorne Campbell | Lorne Campbell | 4 | | | | | | |
| Rick Lang | Rick Lang | 4 | | | | | | | John Base | John Base | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | Bill Adams | Bill Adams | 5 |
| Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 7 | Qualifier 7 | Qualifier 7 |
| | | | Russ Howard | Russ Howard | 8 | | | | | | |
| Markus Eggler | Markus Eggler | 9 | Markus Eggler | Markus Eggler | 1 | | | | | | |
| Ronald Anderson | Ronald Anderson | 2 | | | | Russ Howard | Russ Howard | 8 | | | |
| | | | | | | Al Hackner | Al Hackner | 0 | | | |
| | | | Al Hackner | Al Hackner | 8 | | | | | | |
| Adrian Bakker | Adrian Bakker | 9 | Adrian Bakker | Adrian Bakker | 6 | | | | | | |
| Brent Giles | Brent Giles | 6 | | | | | | | Russ Howard | Russ Howard | 8 |
| | | | | | | | | | Ed Werenich | Ed Werenich | 7 |
| Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 8 | Qualifier 8 | Qualifier 8 |
| | | | Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 9 | | | | | | |
| | | | Ron Gauthier | Ron Gauthier | 8 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 10 | | | |
| Mike Harris | Mike Harris | 7 | | | | Doran Johnson | Doran Johnson | 7 | | | |
| Don Walchuk | Don Walchuk | 4 | Eugene Hritzuk | Eugene Hritzuk | 8 | | | | | | |
| | | | Mike Harris | Mike Harris | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | Eugene Hritzuk | Eugene Hritzuk | 4 |
| | | | | | | Eugene Hritzuk | Eugene Hritzuk | 7 | | | |
| | | | | | | Bryan Derbowka | Bryan Derbowka | 2 | | | |

## Playoffs

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Harold Breckenridge | Harold Breckenridge | 6 | | | | | | |
| Russ Howard | Russ Howard | 10 | | | | | | |
| Russ Howard | Russ Howard | 10 | Russ Howard | Russ Howard | 9 | | | |
| | | | Rob Ewen | Rob Ewen | 7 | | | |
| Rob Ewen | Rob Ewen | 11 | Rob Ewen | Rob Ewen | 7 | | | |
| Kerry Burtnyk | Kerry Burtnyk | 5 | | | | | | |
| Kerry Burtnyk | Kerry Burtnyk | 5 | | | | Russ Howard | Russ Howard | 8 |
| | | | | | | Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 2 |
| Mark Dacey | Mark Dacey | 8 | | | | | | | Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 2 |
| John Base | John Base | 3 | | | | | | |
| John Base | John Base | 3 | Mark Dacey | Mark Dacey | 5 | | | |
| | | | Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 7 | | | |
| Ed Lukowich | Ed Lukowich | 6 | Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 7 | | | |
| Paul Savage | Paul Savage | 7 | | | | | | |

### Quarter-finals

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Harold Breckenridge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 6 |
| Russ Howard | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | X | 10 |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Ed Lukowich | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Paul Savage | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| John Base | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 3 |
| Mark Dacey | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | X | 8 |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Rob Ewen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | X | X | 11 |
| Kerry Burtnyk | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | X | 5 |

### Semifinals

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Mark Dacey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Paul Savage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Russ Howard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 9 |
| Rob Ewen | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 7 |

### Final

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Russ Howard | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | X | X | 8 |
| Paul Savage | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | X | 2 |