Alma Laidlaw of Guelph, Ont. moved one step closer to winning the opportunity to throw one rock for a chance to cover the button for $1 million (CDN), live on CBC Television, after advancing to the semi-finals of the Capital One Million Dollar Buttoncontest this afternoon at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ont. The Capital One Million Dollar Button on-site qualifier took place during the fourth end break of The Swiss Chalet National’s championship game between Randy Ferbey (Edmonton, Alta.) and Brad Gushue (St. John’s, Nfld.).
Laidlaw, 63, won The Swiss Chalet National on-site qualifier after emerging from a pool of six randomly selected contestants when her rock landed 60.4 centimetres from the button.
“It’s probably the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever done,” said Laidlaw following her winning throw. “It was very exciting and it was nice to have supporters here from the Guelph Curling Club to help cheer me on.”
As the contestant with the closest attempt to the button, Laidlaw advances to compete in the semi-finals of the Capital One Million Dollar Buttoncontest on Saturday, January 23 in Winnipeg, Man.
The semi-finalist with the closest rock to the button will win the opportunity to attempt to cover the button for $1 million (CDN), live on CBC Television during the fourth end break of the championship game of the BDO Classic Canadian Open on Sunday, January 24.
A total of six Canadian curling fans will qualify for the semi-finals of the Capital One Million Dollar Button including one representative from the Grey Power World Cup of Curling, The Swiss Chalet National and the BDO Classic Canadian Open, along with three randomly selected online entrants.
Clay Graves, 64, of Toronto, Ont. was the first contestant to qualify for the semi-finals after emerging from a pool of six randomly selected contestants at the Grey Power World Cup of Curling in Mississauga, Ont. when his rock landed 152.4 centimetres from the button.
The six semi-finalists will compete against each other following the semi-finals of the BDO Classic Canadian Open on January 23. The semi-finalist who throws the rock closest to the button will earn the right to compete for $1 million in the finals of the Capital One Million Dollar Button.
In order to win the Capital One Million Dollar Button’s grand prize of a one-time payment of $1 million (CDN), the contest finalist must successfully deliver a rock from the hack and have it cover the hole in the centre of the button on a regulation curling sheet. The contest finalist will have just one opportunity to execute the shot.
Should the finalist’s rock miss covering the hole in the centre of the button, but be touching a part of the button, the individual will receive $100,000 (CDN). Alternatively, $25,000 (CDN) will be awarded if the rock is touching the four-foot circle. A prize of $10,000 (CDN) will be awarded if the rock is touching the eight-foot circle while a rock that touches the 12-foot circle will earn $5,000 (CDN). Should the finalist’s rock not touch any of the circles, the individual will receive $1,000 (CDN). Full contest details are available at www.capitalone.ca/button.[1]
The Capital One Million Dollar Button is the first curling-based contest in Canada with a grand prize of $1 million available to be won.
Last year, Ron Trottier of Osoyoos, B.C. came within 35 inches of winning $1 million after his shot slid just past the button. Trottier’s shot was good enough to earn him $10,000 (CDN) as the inaugural finalist of the Capital One Million Dollar Button.
Related posts:
- Guelph’s Alma Laidlaw Wins $1,000 in Capital One Million Dollar Button Contest
- Capital One Million Dollar Button Semi-Finalists
- Capital One Million Dollar Button Contest
- Who Will Be The Next Canadian to Shoot for a Million Dollars?
- Who Will Be The Next Canadian to Move One Step Closer to Winning A Million Dollars?