Reno, Nev. – This January during the championship final of the BDO Classic Canadian Open, the third leg of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series, a lucky curling fan got the chance to shoot for big money on CBC Television during the Capital One Million Dollar Button contest.

A total of 6 semifinalists each threw a rock to see who could come closest to the button and become the finalist who, in order to win the $1 million prize, had to deliver a “rock from the hack” and have it cover the hole in the center of the button on a regulation curling sheet. If the finalist’s rock missed covering the hole in the center of the button, but was touching part of the button, they’d receive $100,000. If the rock was touching the four-foot circle, he or she would take home $25,000; if the rock was touching the eight-foot circle they’d get $10,000 and $5,000 if the rock was touching the 12-foot circle.

While 63-year old finalist Alma Laidlaw, a former curling coach, came up short in the million dollar event, she didn’t go home empty handed. Even though her rock wasn’t touching any of the circles, she still took home a $1,000 prize.

According to Risk Manager Zak Woodhead, “This promotion is a good example of how a sponsor can target a large niche market and really generate a big impact by customizing a million dollar contest exclusively for the given audience – in this case Canadian curling fans.”

UPDATE: Another Year, Another Million Dollar Button Finalist!

Zak Woodhead, Risk Manager for Odds On Promotions reports, “After last year’s successful promotion, once again Capital One sponsored this Million Dollar Button contest at the Canadian Open. Contestant  Teri Schiman didn’t have quite enough to slide her stone over the button and become a millionaire during the BDO Canadian Open, but she didn’t go home empty-handed. She scored $25,000 in prize money for landing her shot inside the 4-foot circle.