News Masters

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., needed an extra end to eliminate Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton 4-3 Saturday and punch his ticket to the Grand Slam of Curling’s Masters final.

Howard took a 2-0 lead with a single in the second and a steal in the third after Stoughton’s stone sailed clear through the house. With Howard holding a 3-1 advantage after six, Stoughton scored one in seven and tied it in eight on a steal when Howard’s final draw rolled heavy. Howard redeemed himself in the extra end with an open hit-and-stick.

Howard, riding an undefeated 6-0 streak, will face Edmonton’s Kevin Martin with a chance to earn his record-extending sixth Masters title. Martin avenged an opening-round loss to China’s Rui Liu with a 4-2 win in the other semifinal to advance. 

Liu won their opening draw encounter 7-6, but Martin has now won five in a row heading into Sunday’s final. Costly mistakes prevented Liu from topping the 17-time Grand Slam champion Martin a second time. Liu opened with hammer, but flashed his last to give up a steal. Deuces back and forth in the fourth and fifth frames kept Martin ahead by one and another flash by Liu in seven sealed the deal.