How Brad Jacobs rallied past Matt Dunstone to claim 2nd Brier title in dramatic final.
Brad Jacobs secured his second Brier title on March 9, 2025, leading Team Alberta to a 5–3 victory over Team Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone in a thrilling final at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia. The win marked Jacobs’ first national championship in 12 years, his previous title coming in 2013 with a different team.
A Tense and Tactical Final
The championship match unfolded with strategic precision. After four blank ends, Dunstone capitalized on a rare miss by Jacobs in the fifth end, scoring two points to take the lead. Jacobs responded with a single in the sixth and a steal of one in the seventh, tying the game at 2–2 citeturn0search3. In the ninth end, Dunstone’s miscue—a flashed takeout attempt—forced him to settle for a single point, giving Jacobs the crucial hammer in the 10th. With the final stone, Jacobs executed a flawless takeout to score three, clinching the title.
Team Alberta’s Journey to Victory
Jacobs’ team, consisting of vice-skip Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant, and lead Ben Hebert, entered the Brier as the second-ranked team in Canada. They finished the round-robin with an 8–0 record but faced a setback in the Page 1–2 playoff, losing to Brad Gushue’s Team Canada. Undeterred, they mounted a comeback, defeating Nova Scotia’s Team Purcell and Manitoba’s Team Carruthers to reach the semifinal. In a dramatic semifinal, Jacobs edged out Gushue 7–5, benefiting from a missed final shot by Gushue.
Celebrating a Career Milestone
For Jacobs, the victory was a significant milestone in his illustrious curling career. He expressed relief and pride, noting that the win alleviated pressure for the remainder of his career . The championship also secured Team Alberta’s representation for Canada at the 2025 World Men’s Curling Championship in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and at the 2026 Brier.
The triumph was also a testament to the team’s resilience and experience. Kennedy, Gallant, and Hebert each added another national title to their storied careers, with Hebert and Gallant now boasting five Brier championships, and Kennedy four . Their collective experience and composure under pressure were pivotal in securing the championship.
As Team Alberta celebrates their victory, the curling community looks forward to their performance on the world stage, where they aim to continue their success and represent Canada with pride.
