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Format

All divisions are split into four pools of four teams. Each team will play four round-robin games: three against teams within their pool and one crossover game against a team from another pool. Teams from Pool A will face teams from Pool C, and teams from Pool B will face teams from Pool D.

Crossover games will be played Sept. 26, with the matchups determined based on the standings following the conclusion of pool play Sept. 25. The first-place team will cross over to play the fourth-place team, the second-place team will cross over to play the third-place team, and vice versa.

Eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals. Tiebreaker games will be played if necessary.

No Extra Ends in Round Robin and Tiebreakers: A shootout will determine the winning team.

Points System: Win in 8 ends or less = 3 points; shootout win = 2 points; shootout loss = 1 point; Lose in 8 ends or less = 0 points.

Time/Timeouts: Each team will have 31 minutes of thinking time, plus two 90-second timeouts. During the playoffs, if a game goes into an extra end, teams will have five minutes of thinking time, plus one 90-second timeout, regardless of how much time they finished with after the eighth end.

Qualification

Tier 1: Both men’s and women’s divisions will feature 16 teams: 14 teams based on last season’s final World Curling team rankings plus 2 sponsors’ exemptions. If a team in the top 14 declines its invitation, the next team on the rankings will be invited until the field is complete.

Once the Tier 1 field has been confirmed, invitations for the Tier 2 will be sent out.

Tier 2: Both men’s and women’s divisions will feature 16 teams: 13 teams based on last season’s final World Curling team rankings plus 3 regional invites. The Tier 2 event will take place at the St. Thomas Curling Club in St. Thomas, Ont., with the finals played alongside the Tier 1 at the Western Fair Sports Centre in London, Ont.