News Players' Championship

Fleury tops Tirinzoni in extra end at Players’ Championship

TORONTO — Team Tracy Fleury of East St. Paul, Man., edged out Switzerland’s Team Silvana Tirinzoni 5-4 during Wednesday afternoon action in the Players’ Championship at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre.

Fleury connected with a hit on her last rock in the extra end over the reigning world champion in their first round-robin game.

Taylor McDonald is subbing at second this week for Team Fleury’s Liz Fyfe, who is preparing for her second baby.

Team Casey Scheidegger of Lethbridge, Alta., scored a pair of three-enders during an 8-3 victory in only five ends over Scotties Tournament of Hearts champions Team Chelsea Carey of Calgary.

Carey started with the hammer and scored a deuce in the opening end. Scheidegger bounced back big time with her first trey in the second followed by a steal of two in the third to make it a 5-2 game as Carey tapped and rolled away from the pile. After Carey drew for a single in four, Scheidegger’s second three-count in five brought out the handshakes and an early end to the match.

Players’ Championship: Tickets | Live Scores/Results | Standings | Draw Schedule | Broadcast Schedule

In men’s play, Toronto’s Team John Epping levelled their record to 1-1 with a 5-3 win over Regina’s Team Matt Dunstone (0-2).

Team Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., scored a point in the eighth end to edge world silver medallists Team Kevin Koe of Calgary 6-5. It was the first game of the tournament for both clubs.

Round-robin action continues at 4 p.m. ET. Teams are split into two pools for round-robin play with the best eight overall qualifying for the weekend playoffs.

Broadcast coverage begins Thursday at Noon ET on Sportsnet and streaming online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).

NOTES: The Players’ Championship is the sixth event and fourth major of the 2018-19 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tour featuring 12 of the top men’s teams and 12 of the top women’s teams in the world. … A combined purse of $300,000 is up for grabs with the winning teams cashing in $30,000 each. … Also on the line is the Pinty’s Cup, which is awarded to the season men’s and women’s champions and includes a $75,000 bonus for the winners.