News Champions Cup

Kerri Einarson (centre) prepares to shoot a stone as Briane Meilleur (left) and Shannon Birchard (right) get ready to sweep during the second draw of the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup on May 3, 2022, at the Olds Sportsplex in Olds, Alta. (Anil Mungal)

Einarson shakes off slow start to cruise past Christensen at Champions Cup

OLDS, Alta. — Team Kerri Einarson overcame a shaky start to come back and beat Team Cory Christensen 9-4 Tuesday during Draw 2 action in the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup at the Olds Sportsplex.

The three-time Canadian champions from Gimli, Man., look to end the 2021-22 campaign on a high note.

“We’re just going out and really having fun and enjoying ourselves,” Einarson said. “Whatever happens, happens. It’s the last event of the season and we’re excited for that.”

Christensen, from the United States, opened with the hammer and converted to score a deuce in the first frame after Einarson flashed a rock. Einarson then fell behind 3-0 by giving up a single steal in the second.

Einarson turned things around in the third end big time and capitalized when Christensen wrecked on a guard then drew her shooter in to score four and take control.

“The four was definitely a turning point in that game,” Einarson said. “We made some really big shots when needed and really put some pressure on them.”  

The teams traded single points in four and five and Einarson extended her lead to 8-4 in six when Christensen crashed on another guard. Christensen conceded another point in the seventh end and shook hands.

“It definitely feels good to start off with a win,” Einarson said. “We came out a little shaky and once we got a feel for the ice and figured out the paths I think we had a good handle on it towards the end.”

Meanwhile, three-time reigning world champions Team Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland kicked things off thumping Saskatoon’s Team Amber Holland 8-2.

Calgary’s Team Kevin Koe cruised past Edmonton’s Team Ryan Jacques 11-2 and Edmonton’s Team Brendan Bottcher topped Team Korey Dropkin of the United States 5-3 in men’s action.

UP NEXT

The KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup continues with Draw 3 starting at 6 p.m. local time at the Olds Sportsplex.

Pool play runs through to Friday with the quarterfinals and semifinals scheduled for Saturday and both finals set for Sunday.

BROADCAST DETAILS

Live coverage of the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup begins Thursday at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on Sportsnet, Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).

NOTES

The KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup is the fourth and final Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event of the 2021-22 season featuring 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams who have won top tour titles in order to qualify. … A combined $210,000 prize purse is up for grabs with the winning teams earning $25,000 plus berths to next year’s KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup.