By Jonathan Brazeau
As Giulia Zardini Lacedelli gets set to compete in her first Grand Slam of Curling event as a skip, Orrin Carson prepares to play in his first Grand Slam of Curling event ever.
The Grand Slam of Curling announced Wednesday that Italy’s Team Zardini Lacedelli and Scotland’s Team Carson have qualified for the CO-OP Invitational through the newly established GSOC Satellite Events series.
The Grand Slam of Curling has partnered with high-profile tour events to provide new avenues for teams to reach the top-flight circuit.
The Euro Super Series, held Aug. 20-23 in Stirling, Scotland, served as the first qualifying event this season. Team Pätz defeated Team X. Schwaller 8-5 in the all-Swiss women’s final, and Switzerland’s Team Y. Schwaller topped Scotland’s Team Hardie 8-2 in the men’s final. Since the winners and runners-up had already been selected for the CO-OP Invitational, the berths went to the highest-ranked semifinalists on the world rankings.
Zardini Lacedelli earned a direct bye to the semis in the Euro Super Series after posting a perfect 4-0 record in preliminary play, including a 5-4 shootout victory over Pätz. Her team fell 6-3 in the rematch during the semifinals.
Carson snuck into the playoffs with a 2-2 record and eliminated Team Retornaz 9-7 in an extra end during the quarterfinals. His team also lost to the eventual champ, falling 7-6 to Schwaller in the semifinals. Carson received the men’s invite after Italy’s Team Spiller, the higher-ranked semifinalist, declined.
Zardini Lacedelli served as the vice skip for Stefania Constantini during the previous quadrennial and represented Italy on home ice at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina.
Carson has competed for Scotland at the past four World Junior Curling Championships, winning three bronze medals. Scotland will be well represented at the CO-OP Invitational, with Carson joining compatriots Team Mouat, Team Hardie and Team Waddell.
The GSOC competition committee selected the first 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams for the CO-OP Invitational. The AMJ Shorty Jenkins Classic, Karuizawa International and Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic will also qualify teams in the coming weeks to complete the 16-team fields.
The CO-OP Invitational takes place Oct. 13-18 at Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Full event, weekend and day passes, plus single draw tickets, are now available. Visit GSOCtickets.com to purchase your tickets today.
