News Elite 10

Epping slams Edin in Elite 10 tiebreaker to qualify

WINNIPEG — Toronto’s John Epping figures he’s due for a win over Brad Gushue.

The two battled twice at the Brier last week and once already here Friday at the Princess Auto Elite 10 with Gushue getting the upper hand in all three matches.

Epping will face off against the back-to-back Brier champion from St. John’s, N.L., again during Saturday’s quarterfinals after advancing to the playoffs following a dominant 4 & 3 victory over Niklas Edin of Sweden.

“It could potentially be a long day and we’re playing Brad next,” Epping said. “It’s our fourth time playing him in a week so we’ve got to eventually beat him once, so maybe this will be the time.”

The three-time Grand Slam champion Epping shut out the Pyeongchang Winter Games silver medallist Edin stealing the first, scoring in the third with the hammer and swiping the fourth and fifth ends for a quick finish.

The team of Epping, third Mat Camm, second Pat Janssen and lead Tim March will take advantage of the extra rest between the draws with the quarterfinals set for Noon CT at St. James Civic Centre. Watch on Sportsnet and online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare TV (international).

“It was an early morning and we’re still pretty tired from last week,” said Epping, who earned bronze for Ontario at the Brier. “A couple of our guys are battling pretty bad colds, actually. They played really well today and it’s just nice to make the playoffs here. To win two games and to now win a third is nice.”

Match play rules are in effect at the Princess Auto Elite 10 where teams compete to win the most ends per game by either counting two or more rocks (with the hammer) or stealing at least one (without the hammer). If the score is tied after eight ends, a draw-to-the-button shootout will determine the winner.

Princess Auto Elite 10: Scores | Draw Schedule | Standings | TV Schedule

Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., will take on Glenn Howard of Tiny, Ont., in the other quarterfinal game.

Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen and Calgary’s Kevin Koe topped the round-robin table to earn byes to the semifinals at 4 p.m. CT. Watch on Sportsnet ONE and online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare TV (international).

The final is scheduled for Sunday at 9:30 a.m. CT on Sportsnet.

NOTES: The Princess Auto Elite 10 is the fifth tournament of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. … The winning team earns an invitation to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup taking place April 24-29 at Calgary’s WinSport Arena.