{"id":879060,"date":"2025-03-07T04:20:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T12:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/?p=879060"},"modified":"2025-03-05T04:22:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T12:22:58","slug":"the-best-curling-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/blog\/the-best-curling-players\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Curling Players"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Curling is often described as \u201cchess on ice\u201d, with the winter sport demanding strategy, skill, and precision, whether with the rock or the broom. With roots dating back to 16th-century Scotland, curling has evolved from a pastime on frozen ponds to an Olympic sport with dozens of championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sport\u2019s growing popularity, from its heartlands of Canada, Sweden, its native Scotland, and Switzerland to new pastures like South Korea and Japan, has led to increased competition at the highest level. Ultimately, this has produced some of the most talented and decorated athletes in the sporting world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But who is the best? Ranking the best curlers is a fun but challenging task. Different playing styles, eras, and formats, such as team curling and mixed doubles, make direct comparisons difficult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some key factors that help determine the sport\u2019s greats, like the ability to deliver under pressure and contribute to their team\u2019s success, all define the legends of curling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following list highlights the top 10 curlers in the world today. These men\u2019s and women\u2019s curlers have dominated their respective nations, played a crucial role in key victories for their teams and nations, and innovated the game in style and athletic advancements. We hope you\u2019ll agree, each is a legend of this wonderful sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Current Top 10 Curling Players<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Bruce Mouat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: BBC News<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruce Mouat is one of the most accomplished curlers of his generation. Emerging as a dominant force in the game in the 2010s, Mouat is known as a versatile and strategic skip and was ranked the world\u2019s best men\u2019s curler in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing across team and mixed doubles disciplines, his career achievements include a World Men\u2019s Curling Championship gold medal in 2023, European Championship titles in 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and nine Grand Slam titles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also claimed a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in the men\u2019s team event and won a World Mixed Doubles championship in 2021, partnered with Carrington CC curler Jennifer Dodds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mouat is known for his precision, calm demeanor under pressure, and exceptional shot-making ability, including his tremendous two-in-one shot at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and his super-spinner at the Princess Auto Players\u2019 Championship in 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mouat\u2019s leadership and teamwork are also pivotal to his role as skip, and he has formed a great partnership with long-time teammates Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, and Hammy McMillan Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of the youngest skips to win a Grand Slam and the first British curler to compete in both Olympics mixed and team doubles, his legacy in the sport is without doubt. An exceptional curler capable of shop-stopping shots, Mouat is a true legend of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Rachel Homan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: \u0410\u043a\u0443\u0442\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0432\u0430\/Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Homan is one of the most accomplished Canadian curlers of her era, renowned for her precise shot-taking and competitive drive. An accomplished skip from the Ottawa Curling Club, one of the oldest curling clubs in the world, Homan has been relentless and dominating in her sport, winning four Scotties Tournaments of Hearts in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2024, alongside two World Women\u2019s Curling Championships in 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, Homan was invited to participate with her team in the Elite 10 Grand Slam Event, becoming the first women\u2019s team to compete in a men\u2019s Grand Slam event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2024 title was particularly historic, as under her leadership, Canada ended Switzerland\u2019s 42-match unbeaten run and secured Canada\u2019s first women\u2019s gold. Homan also represented Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homan is known for an aggressive style and is famous for delivering clutch shots in critical moments, including her outstanding shot for three in the Co-op Canadian Open in 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her ability to execute precise draws and takeouts has defined her career, including her takeout in the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Yannick Schwaller<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit:<\/em> Eurosport<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yannick Schwaller is a Swiss curler known for his skill and leadership as a skip. He emerged in the 2010s, making a name for himself in the junior ranks before winning a World Junior Curling Championship title for Switzerland in 2014. This ultimately marked him as one of the sport\u2019s rising talents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schwaller easily transitioned to the senior circuit and has consistently led his team to strong performances on the World Curling Tour, securing multiple victories such as the prestigious Baden Masters and Schweizer Cup. His crowning achievement came in 2020 when he won the Swiss Men\u2019s Curling Championship title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schwaller is also known for his precise shot-making and calm demeanor under pressure. His multiple points score in the 2024 World Men\u2019s Double Championship match against Norway cleared both the opponents\u2019 scores from the button. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schwaller remains one of the best in his sport, and with plenty of his career ahead of him, the Solothurn native is set to continue to improve and dominate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Silvana Tirinzoni<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit:<\/em> Sportsnet<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another Swiss skip, Silvana Tirinzoni is, simply put, a legend of Curling. She is one of the most accomplished curlers of her generation and arguably in the history of the sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dominant force in women\u2019s curling during the 2010s, Tirinzoni reached her peak at the end of the 2010s and beginning of the 2020s, where she won her first Women\u2019s Curling Championship in 2019, and followed it up by three successive titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsible for an astounding 42-game winning streak at the World Championships, Tirinzoni\u2019s Switzerland team was one of the world sport\u2019s most formidable opponents before Rachel Homan\u2019s Canada ended the historic streak in 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Zurich native also boasts four Grand Slam titles and a European Championship gold medal in 2023, further solidifying her status as a curling icon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her leadership as a skip, combined with her calm demeanor, has been vital in her team\u2019s success. Tirinzoni\u2019s style of play is both methodical and adaptable, allowing her to outmaneuver opponents in critical moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Matt Dunstone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: Grand Slam of Curling<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matt \u201cThe Sheriff\u201d Dunstone is a Canadian curler with the Fort Rouge Curling Club in Winnipeg, where he acts as skip. Emerging as a standout junior curler in the 2010s, Dunstone gained national attention in 2013 when he won the Canadian Junior Curling Championships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sheriff followed this with an exceptional performance at the World Junior Curling Championship the same year, earning Canada a bronze medal. He repeated his junior success in 2016, earning a second Canadian title and another World Junior bronze medal, increasing his rapidly rising stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He transitioned to the men\u2019s circuit in 2017, joining Team Laycock, and won a Manitoba provincial men\u2019s title in 2018, a year into his senior career. He made the jump to skip in 2018, forming his own team and quickly winning the 2018-19 Curling World Cup leg against the legendary skip Niklas Edin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He followed this up with his first Grand Slam title in 2019, winning the Masters title against Brad Gushue, an all-time great of the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dunstone has secured multiple provincial titles, a Grand Slam victory, and consecutive bronze medals at the Tim Hortons Brier in 2020 and 2021 in two of his seven appearances at the event. A dynamic and aggressive player with a cute shot and excellent skills on the ice, Dunstone will only get better in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Anna Hasselborg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: Mattuta\/Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna Hasselborg comes from a family of Swedish curlers, including her father Mikael, uncle Stefan, brother Marcus, and cousin Mio. This pressure hasn\u2019t stopped her from dominating the sport domestically and internationally. Hasselborg rose to fame during the late 2000s in domestic competitions and the Junior circuit, winning the World Junior Championship in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She followed up her excellent junior career to win six Swedish Women\u2019s Championships in fourteen years, in 2011, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024. She became the first curler in history to simultaneously hold the European Curling Championship, World Mixed Doubles Championship, and Olympic gold medals in November 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her precision, ability to read the ice, and strong sense of the patterns of play have characterized her style over her career. She has an unbelievable clutch ability to win games, like her game-winning runback in the 2019 European Championship title. With multiple Grand Slam victories, Hasselborg also led the first women\u2019s team to achieve a career Grand Slam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Ross Whyte<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: Mattuta\/Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ross Whyte is an emerging English-born Scottish curler who has made significant strides in the sport. Representing Stirling CC, Whyte established himself in the junior ranks, earning a silver in the 2018 World Junior Curling Championships and bronze at the 2019 Juniors and 2019 Winter Universiade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whyte\u2019s senior career has seen a similar meteoric rise, with him winning European titles in 2018 and 2021 as an alternate for skip Bruce Mouat and a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in the men\u2019s team event. His performances in 2024 earned him the rank of number four men\u2019s player in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whyte has excelled as a skip and team member and has delivered a number of crucial shots to deliver titles for himself and his teams, including his calm and collected shot in the WFG Masters Men\u2019s Final, which sealed his first-ever Grand Slam title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Eunjung Kim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: Trainholic\/Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eunjung Kim, known by curling fans as \u201cAnnie,\u201d is an icon of the sport whose career spurred curling in South Korea. From Uiseong, her efforts in the sport have led to her home city becoming known as the curling capital of Korea.

She rose to prominence as the skip of the South Korean national team, famously labeled the \u201cGarlic Girls,\u201d leading them to a historic silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. This achievement was a defining moment, not only for Kim but for curling in Korea, as it showcased the nation\u2019s growing prowess on the international stage.

Kim\u2019s style of play is marked by precise shot-making and her ability to adapt to opponents, making her one of the sport\u2019s most respected skips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond her Olympic success, Kim has claimed multiple national titles and secured victories at prestigious World Curling Tour events. This includes the 2016 Pacific-Asia Curling Championship, where she defeated China\u2019s Wang Bingyu to claim her first Asia-Pacific title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Brad Jacobs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: Krazytea\/Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brad Jacobs is one of Canada\u2019s most celebrated curlers, and he was known for his dominance in the sport in the 2010s. Jacobs is also an Olympic champion, having led Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His crowning achievement came with a 9\u20133 victory over Great Britain in the final, cementing his status as one of the sport\u2019s current best. He also achieved silver at the 2013 World Men\u2019s Curling Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Jacobs led his team to a 2013 Tim Hortons Brier title, becoming the first Northern Ontario team to win a championship since 1985. He has dominated his provincial scene, winning 12 Northern Ontario provincial titles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was a key figure in curling\u2019s evolution toward a more athletic and fitness-oriented approach. His team, often described as \u201cfitness freaks,\u201d set a new standard for physical conditioning in the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Satsuki Fujisawa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Credit: Palsternakka\/Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Satsuki Fujisawa is a Japanese curler who, like Eunjung Kim, has made great efforts to raise the popularity of the sport in her native country. A skip with exceptional leadership and ability with the rock or broom, she has dominated Japanese curling, claiming six national titles and leading her team to a groundbreaking 2023 Canadian Open Grand Slam victory – the first by an Asian team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known for clutch performances and technical precision, she guided Japan to its first World Championship podium (silver, 2016) and pioneered success in mixed doubles, winning national titles with Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fujisawa\u2019s resilience, highlighted by Olympic comebacks and tactical brilliance, cemented her legacy as a pioneer who transformed Japan into a strong curling contender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Best Curling Players<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ten best curlers highlighted in this list have earned their legendary status through many personal and team accolades, often leading their teams as skip. Each has contributed greatly to the sport, dominated their respective nations, and more. Many have broken the sports norms and fitness regimes, alongside defining what is possible with the rock and broom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legends like Silvana Tirinzoni and Bruce Mouat have showcased mastery across disciplines. At the same time, Rachel Homan and Anna Hasselborg redefined excellence with clutch performances, multiple Grand Slams, and breaking gender barriers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brad Jacobs\u2019 Olympic gold and fitness-driven approach revolutionized curling\u2019s athletic standards, emphasizing physical conditioning as critical to success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pioneers like Satsuki Fujisawa and Eunjung Kim elevated their nations, with Fujisawa securing Japan\u2019s first Slam and Olympic medals, while Kim\u2019s \u201cGarlic Girls\u201d put South Korea on the map. Their success allowed curling to break out from its traditional strongholds and become a truly global sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These legends transformed curling into a faster, more strategic, and more inclusive sport. Their achievements, whether through Olympic glory or pionee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Curling is often described as \u201cchess on ice\u201d, with the winter sport demanding strategy, skill, and precision, whether with the rock or the broom. With roots dating back to 16th-century Scotland, curling has evolved from a pastime on frozen ponds to an Olympic sport with dozens of championships. The sport\u2019s growing popularity, from its heartlands […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92538,"featured_media":879061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1903],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2454223733.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/879060"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92538"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=879060"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/879060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":879062,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/879060\/revisions\/879062"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/879061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=879060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=879060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/shop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=879060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}