Fleury, Bottcher open in win column at KIOTI Tractor Tour Challenge

PICTOU COUNTY, N.S. — Masters women’s champions Team Tracy Fleury of East St. Paul, Man., have carried their winning ways into the KIOTI Tractor Tour Challenge Tier 1.

Fleury, fresh off of capturing her first career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title just over a week ago, scored a deuce in the second and stole four points in the fifth end for a 6-3 victory over Sweden’s Team Isabella Wrana during the second round-robin draw Wednesday morning.

Elsewhere in Draw 2, reigning Olympic gold medallists Team Anna Hasselborg of Sweden also started in the win column defeating Switzerland’s Team Elena Stern 6-4.

Regina’s Team Matt Dunstone, who claimed the Masters men’s title, were not as successful as Team Fleury in their first game as they fell 7-5 to Team Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton. Bottcher, who won three consecutive GSOC events last season, rallied to score three points in the final end.

Winnipeg’s Team Jason Gunnlaugson topped Team Yannick Schwaller of Switzerland 7-5 and Team Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., beat Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin 5-2.

The Tier 1 divisions, featuring 15 of the top teams from around the globe based on the World Curling Tour’s Order of Merit, are split into three pools for round-robin play with the top eight overall qualifying for the weekend playoffs.

The Tier 2 divisions consist of 16 teams including the next 10 ranked teams on the World Curling Tour’s Order of Merit and six teams from within the event’s region.

Tier 2 Draw 2 Results

Je. Murphy 6, St-Georges 4

Jentsch 7, Glynn 2

Sturmay 7, Stevens 6

Bryce 9, Muyres 3

Ja. Murphy 9, K. Thompson 2

Up Next

Round-robin action continues Wednesday at Noon AT at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.

Televised?

Broadcast coverage begins Thursday at 11 a.m. ET on Sportsnet with online streaming available via Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).

Notes

The KIOTI Tractor Tour Challenge is the second of six events on the 2019-20 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling schedule. … Winners of the Tier 1 divisions earn $30,000 and berths to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup. … Also up for grabs in the Tier 1 only are Pinty’s Cup bonus points. The leaders following the conclusion of the Players’ Championship in April will capture the Pinty’s Cup with additional prize money awarded. … Winners of the Tier 2 divisions earn $10,000 and promotions to face the world’s best at the 2020 Meridian Canadian Open.