News National

CHESTERMERE, Alta. — Team Niklas Edin from Sweden became the first to reach the triple knockout A-qualifiers at the Boost National.

Edin climbed to a 2-0 record after scoring a single in the eighth end to eke out a 6-5 victory over Team Glenn Howard during Draw 5 action Wednesday morning at the Chestermere Recreation Centre.

Team Edin, who have won three Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling men’s titles, just need another win to advance to the quarterfinals.

Howard’s record is now level at 1-1 as his team from Penetanguishene, Ont., dropped into the B brackets.

Elsewhere in Draw 5, Edmonton’s Team Brendan Bottcher bounced back into the win column edging Team Ross Paterson from Scotland 5-4.

Bottcher (1-1) rebounded from a 10-1 blitzing at the hands of Switzerland’s Team Yannick Schwaller on Tuesday.

Team Ross Whyte from Scotland scored three in the seventh to fend off Toronto’s Team John Epping 7-5 and stay in the B brackets at 1-1.

Paterson and Epping both dropped into the C-side and now must win three consecutive games in order to qualify for the playoffs as another loss will eliminate them from the tournament.

Team Isabella Wranå from Sweden improved to a 1-1 record to remain in the B brackets by beating Edmonton’s Team Laura Walker 7-3 in the lone women’s game on the draw. Walker dropped into the C-side at 0-2.

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Boost National: Live Scores and Standings | Draw Schedule | Broadcast Schedule

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UP NEXT

The triple knockout stage continues with Draw 6 at Noon MT. Broadcast coverage begins Thursday at 2 p.m. ET / Noon MT on Sportsnet, Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).

TRIPLE KNOCKOUT EXPLAINED

The triple knockout 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. 

NO TICK ZONE

Teams cannot tick guards off of the centre line while the five-rock, free guard zone is in effect during the eighth and extra ends.

NOTES

The Boost National is the second of five events on the 2021-22 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling schedule and features 16 of the top men’s teams and 16 of the top women’s teams from around the world with a combined $300,000 prize purse. … The winning teams earning $33,000 plus spots in the season-ending KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup. … Triple knockout play runs through to Saturday morning. The quarterfinals and semifinals are also Saturday with both finals set for Sunday. … Tickets are available at boost.goigniter.com.