TORONTO — Team Brad Gushue improved to a 2-1 record in the Princess Auto Players' Championship, and the St. John's, N.L., crew are now one victory away from qualifying for the playoffs.
Gushue moved onto the B Event finals of the triple knockout preliminary round with a 3-2 victory over Italy's Team Joel Retornaz during Draw 9 action Thursday morning at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
It was a rematch from the world men's curling championship where Gushue, representing Canada, thumped Retornaz 10-4 during round-robin play just last week in Las Vegas. Gushue captured the silver medal while Retornaz earned bronze.
Team Retornaz (1-2) dropped into the C Event brackets and must win their last game in order to remain in the tournament.
The triple knockout preliminary round consists of three brackets: A, B and C. Teams must win three games in order to qualify for the playoffs. Each loss drops a team to a lower bracket until they lose three games and are out of the tournament. Two A teams (3-0 records), three B teams (3-1 records) and three C teams (3-2 records) advance to the quarterfinals.
Scotland's Team Ross Whyte (2-1) also advanced to the B Event finals with a 6-4 victory over Team Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont. With Glenn out due to a knee injury, Scott Howard has moved up to skip Team Howard (1-2) with Wayne Middaugh subbing at third.
In women's B Event action, Ottawa's Team Rachel Homan scored a 7-3 win over Regina's Team Chelsea Carey and Germany's Team Daniela Jentsch defeated Sweden's Team Isabella Wrana 9-5.
Homan and Jentsch, both at 2-1, are off to the B Event finals while Carey and Wrana slipped in the C side.
UP NEXT
The Princess Auto Players' Championship continues Thursday with Draw 10 action starting at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT on Sportsnet, Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).
NOTES
The Princess Auto Players' Championship is the third event of the 2021-22 Pinty's 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 with a combined $350,000 prize purse. Winning teams earn $35,000. ... The Pinty's Cup will also be awarded to the season champions following the conclusion of the Princess Auto Players' Championship. Winners of the Pinty's Cup receive $50,000 bonuses.
