Epping upends Olympic champion Jacobs at Players’ Championship
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Toronto’s John Epping topped Olympic gold medallist Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., 8-5 Wednesday night in Draw 5 round-robin action at the Players’ Championship.
Epping, who won the Grand Slam title in this arena in 2012, scored a deuce in the fourth to pull ahead 4-3 and stole two in the fifth to gain a three-point advantage. Jacobs clawed back with a two-count of his own in the sixth to narrow the gap back to one, but Epping blanked the seventh and sealed it with another deuce in the final end.
Both Jacobs and Epping now hold 1-1 records in the fourth and final Grand Slam of Curling event of the season.
Elsewhere, Brier champion Kevin Koe of Calgary improved to a 2-0 record scoring three in the second and stealing singles in the fifth and eighth ends during a 7-3 victory over Scotland’s David Murdoch (0-2).
Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., also climbed to 2-0 with a 6-4 victory over Edmonton’s Kevin Martin (1-1).
Defending champion Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., drew his record level at 1-1 with a 4-3 win over Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock (0-2).
Sweden’s Niklas Edin scored three in the first and deuces in the third and seventh ends to beat Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton 7-5. Both teams are now 1-1 at the event.
