PICTOU COUNTY, N.S. — Last month’s HearingLife Tour Challenge semifinal showdown between Kaitlyn Lawes and Kerri Einarson was this week’s opener in the women’s division of the KIOTI National.
While Lawes and her Winnipeg team were victorious the first time, Einarson’s club from Gimli, Man., came out on top in the rematch with a 6-4 victory Tuesday at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
Both teams were sharp with Team Einarson shooting 96 per cent and Team Lawes firing at 91 per cent.
“It’s always a close one with them, so we feel good going out and having a strong game,” said Val Sweeting, who throws third for Team Einarson. “I think both teams made a lot of shots and it feels good to come out with the W.”
It was grand larceny in the Grand Slam of Curling event as Einarson stole a critical couple of points in the seventh end to break a 4-all tie. Einarson sat two counters in the four-foot circle and Lawes rolled just a tad too deep on her last rock to concede the pair.
"Our objective was to force that end, so it was kind of a bonus to get that steal," Sweeting said. "I think we had really good rock placement in a lot of the ends and we just stayed patient. Kerri made a great one on her first to hit and scoot ours in there into a good position. I think it was just a lot of great team shots."
Lawes retained the hammer for the final frame but didn't get to throw her last rock of the game. Einarson was able to chisel out the shot rock and run Lawes out of stones.
Elsewhere, Rachel Homan's Ottawa team defeated Kate Cameron's Winnipeg crew 7-5 in another all-Canadian clash.
Anna Hasselborg stole the winning point in an extra end as her Swedish side claimed a 5-4 win over Seung-Young Ha's South Korean squad.
Isabelle Wrana's Swedish team scored two in the seventh and stole four in the eighth to close out a 9-2 victory over Christina Black's Halifax crew.
UP NEXT
The KIOTI National continues with Draw 3 at 3 p.m. local time (AT).
Broadcast coverage begins Thursday at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
NOTES
The KIOTI National is the second event of the Grand Slam of Curling season featuring 16 of the top men's teams and 16 of the top women's teams from around the world. ... Each team plays four round-robin games with the top eight advancing to Saturday's quarterfinals. ... The semifinals are also on tap Saturday with both finals scheduled for Sunday.
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