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Gunnlaugson battles back to beat Epping at Masters

LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. — Winnipeg’s Jason Gunnlaugson completed a 7-5 comeback victory over Toronto’s John Epping during Draw 4 Wednesday at the Masters.

Gunnlaugson, who won the Tour Challenge Tier 2 to qualify for the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event, improved to a 1-1 record after falling to Calgary’s Kevin Koe in Tuesday’s evening draw.

With the game tied 5-5, Gunnlaugson came out on the right side of a points swing as Epping attempted a raise but didn’t get the right angle and gave up a steal of two.

“He played a risky shot for sure, but if he makes it, it’s game,” Team Gunnlaugson third Alex Forrest said. “Fortunately, we got the extra point out of it because he was a little off. We’ll take it.”

Epping (0-1) opened with the hammer and capitalized when Gunnlaugson wrecked on a guard to draw for three.

Gunnlaugson took two in the second and stole a pair in the third to pull ahead 4-3 as Epping was locked on a guard with his last. The lead was short-lived as Epping came right back with a deuce in four to go up 5-4.

After Gunnlaugson settled for a single in six to tie it, the stolen pair put him ahead for good and he ran Epping out of rocks in eight.

“It was really crazy. We didn’t really have a bad start to give up that three. It was just the wrong miss at the wrong time and those guys will make you pay for it,” Forrest said. “We’ve battled back before, so we stayed with it and got a nice steal of two back. It was a real tight back-and-forth battle after that and the finish was just as crazy.”

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Meanwhile, Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., opened with a 5-3 victory over Pat Simmons and his Winnipeg team.

The reigning Olympic champion Jacobs (1-0) forced Simmons to a single in the second and scored a deuce in the fourth to lead 2-1 at halftime. Simmons (0-2) matched with a pair of his own in six. Jacobs counted another couple in seven to reclaim the lead and stole one without the hammer in eight.

“I think this was a really good way to start the event for us,” Team Jacobs second E.J. Harnden said. “We played well. Both teams made some really good shots. Both team gave each other a few opportunities out there and fortunately for us we were kind of able to capitalize there at the end and pick up the win in a really good first game that I think will hopefully put us in a good position going forward.”

Elsewhere, Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud also got out to a 1-0 start scoring a 7-6 win over Scotland’s Kyle Smith (0-2).

In women’s play, Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni (1-0) took down Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., 7-3. Middaugh dropped to a 0-2 record.

Tier 2 women’s champ Kerri Einarson cruised past Michelle Englot 8-3 in a battle of Winnipeg-based teams.

Round-robin play continues with Draw 5 at 4 p.m. MT.

NOTES: The Masters is the second event and first major of the 2017-18 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. … Round-robin action runs through to Friday with the quarterfinals and semifinals Saturday and finals set for Sunday. … TV coverage begins Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) or gsoc.yaretv.com (international).

Jan. 14-19, 2025 Sleeman Centre Guelph, ON