Martin wins Casino Rama Skins Game Casino Rama Curling Skins Game TSN.ca Staff 12/9/2007 4:29:21 PM Defending champion Kevin Martin of Edmonton captured his fourth TSN Skins title after defeating Ontario's Wayne Middaugh in the final of the Casino Rama Curling Skins Game. Martin takes home a total of $61,000, bringing his career TSN Skins game winnings to $346,350. Martin's prize money this year includes $30,000 from today's final, $15,000 from yesterday's semifinal, $1,000 for winning the draw to the button, plus a $15,000 bonus for winning the entire tournament. Martin stole the first skin, with Middaugh winning the next four straight. However, a near miss by Middaugh in the 6th end shifted the momentum as Martin went on to win the last three skins to take the title. Martin is automatically invited back next year, where he will attempt to win his third consecutive Skins title. This made-for-TV original TSN production is an annual all-Canadian event featuring four invited Canadian men's rinks competing for a total cash purse of $100,000. "This event has been a real treat. I've never played in such a special venue like Casino Rama before," said Martin. "It's almost Christmas time and this will surely make it a happy holiday season." Middaugh, who was playing in his record 11th final in 14 Skins appearances, takes home $29,000, to boost his career Skins prize money to $365,750, keeping him the winningest skip in Skins history. This marked the third time these two skips have met in the final of the TSN Skins game. Martin defeated Middaugh in the memorable 1998 final in St. John's, while Middaugh got revenge the following year in Whitehorse. In yesterday's Semifinal #1, Middaugh won four Skins for a total of $17,000, defeating reigning Brier and World champion Glenn Howard who pocketed $4,000. In Semifinal #2, also played yesterday, Martin took home $15,000, defeating Olympic gold medalist Brad Gushue in a tie-breaking draw to the button. Gushue won $6,000. Past winners of the TSN Curling Skins Game: 2004 – Kevin Martin ($100,500), Bathurst, NB 2003 – Wayne Middaugh ($88,000), Gimli, MB 2002 – Randy Ferbey ($79,500), Grand Prairie, AB 2001 – Glenn Howard ($77,200), Barrie, ON 2000 – Greg McAulay ($66,100), Fredericton, NB 1999 – Wayne Middaugh ($58,900), Whitehorse, YK 1998 – Kevin Martin ($50,450), St. John's, NL 1997 – Kevin Martin ($46,900), Cranbrook, BC 1996 – Wayne Middaugh ($64,800), Sault Ste. Marie, ON 1995 – Wayne Middaugh ($45,750), Halifax, NS 1994 – Ed Werenich ($45,750), Saskatoon, SK 1993 – Russ Howard ($37,000), Ottawa, ON 1992 – Russ Howard ($37,300), Quebec City, QC 1991 – Russ Howard ($42,250), Calgary, AB 1990 – Ed Werenich ($38,750), Charlottetown, PEI 1989 – Mark Dacey ($28,000), Winnipeg, MB 1988 – Ed Werenich ($22,900) Brandon, MB 1987 – Ed Lukowich ($19,250), Thunder Bay, ON 1986 – Ed Werenich ($16,000), Newmarket, ON December 8, 2007 Middaugh and Martin to meet in final of Casino Rama curling skins game By THE CANADIAN PRESS ORILLIA, Ont. - Kevin Martin and Wayne Middaugh will renew their rivalry at the $100,000 TSN Skins curling tournament after winning their semifinal matches Saturday at Casino Rama. Defending champion Martin and Middaugh will meet in Sunday's final (TSN, 1 p.m. ET), facing off for the title for a third time. Martin defeated Middaugh in the 1998 final in St. John's, N.L., while Middaugh got revenge the following year in Whitehorse, Yukon. A seven-time TSN Skins champion, Middaugh is already the all-time leader on the event's money list, while Martin won the most recent Skins event in 2004 in Bathurst, N.B. Edmonton's Martin won only two skins in his match against 2006 Olympic champion Brad Gushue of St. John's, but he made the shot that counted. With $14,000 at stake in the eighth and final end, Martin drew to the button on his last rock to force a tie-breaking draw. In the shootout, Martin's stone hit the button while Gushue's rock came up short. Martin took home $15,000, while Gushue pocketed $6,000. Earlier Saturday, Toronto's Middaugh won four Skins for a total of $17,000, defeating reigning Brier and World champion Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont. The game came down to the final rock of the eighth and final end. Howard tried an angle-raise double-tap to remove a Middaugh stone and score two. The result was one Middaugh stone and one Howard stone in the four-foot, requiring a measure. The Middaugh stone was closer, and Middaugh picked up the final skin to clinch the win. Howard won three skins for $4,000. ENDS SEMIFINALS FINAL 2007 FINAL STANDINGS: 1 & 2 $1,000 $2,000 Kevin Martin $61,000 3 & 4 $1,500 $3,000 Wayne Middaugh 29,000 5 $2,000 $4,000 Brad Gushue 6,000 6 $3,000 $6,000 Glenn Howard 4,000 7 $4,500 $9,000 8 $6,500 $13,000 Draw to the Button Bonus = $1,000 Tournament Winner Bonus = $15,000 Total Prize Money = $100,000