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Brad Jacobs watches a shot during his 7-2 win over Brendan Bottcher at the National in Sault Ste. Marie, ON on December 6, 2016.

Jacobs stymies McEwen to make Canadian Open A-qualifier

CAMROSE, Alta. — Brad Jacobs is charged up at the Meridian Canadian Open.

After over a month off since missing the playoffs at the Roar of the Rings — and thus missing an opportunity to defend the Olympic gold medal — Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., crew are feeling well-rested and ready to roll through this week’s Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling tournament.

Jacobs was on fire Wednesday night throwing a team-high 95 percent during a 7-3 victory over Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen. The three-time Grand Slam champion climbed to a 2-0 record and reached the A finals of the triple knockout round against Peter de Cruz of Switzerland.

“I think everybody was pretty hungry to come out and play because we had over a month off,” Jacobs said. “Everybody took some time off during the break just to step away from the game and kind of forget about the month of December. I think everybody right now is getting along quite well and helping one another out. It’s just been really good so far to come out here and play this week.”

Teams must win three games before they lose three in order to qualify for the weekend playoffs with eight teams advance in both men’s and women’s divisions. By reaching the A finals, Jacobs can sort of control his own destiny with three chances at securing a playoff berth.

“We’ve put ourselves into a good spot. I think we’re getting a little bit more comfortable with the ice each and every game,” Jacobs said. “We haven’t played a triple knockout for quite some time so it is a change and it’s good. It’s always good to throw a little change into the mix. I think we’re just playing well and hopefully, we can keep building and keep the confidence going here this week.”

It was a cat and mouse affair to start with Jacobs and McEwen waiting patiently to pounce at the opportune time. The teams alternated singles to start in the first couple ends and the force was still strong for the following two stanzas. Jacobs drew against two in the third and pulled off a double takeout in the fourth end to sit five counters and make McEwen draw for a single as well.

The opening came in the fifth end as McEwen missed on a freeze attempt and Jacobs responded with an open hit to score three and take a 5-2 lead.

“Some pretty complicated situations for both teams in the beginning of the game and both teams kind of fell behind on time,” Jacobs said. “Really I thought we played quite well. The key shot in that game for us was when we made the draw for one in three against two just to kind of keep control of the game. We got a nice force back but we finally got a break when Mike missed the freeze in the fifth end, an open hit for three and just had control from then on.”

Jacobs maintained a firm grip of the game. McEwen was held to just another single in six and Jacobs pulled off a double for a deuce in seven as the gloves came off.

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Winnipeg’s Jason Gunnlaugson also reached the A finals completing a 6-4 comeback over BOOST National champion Bruce Mouat of Scotland. Gunnlaugson took two in the sixth to tie it and admitted he was fortunate to steal a pair in the final frame.

“A guy who almost hasn’t missed in a couple Slams missed one against us,” Gunnlaugson said. “That sucks obviously for them. They definitely outplayed us but from our point of view, we worked extremely hard.”

Gunnlaugson added his team has been training over the past month and is hoping it’ll pay off here this week.

“It’s a little tricky because we haven’t played in any events really so we’re working things back into game shape,” he said. “We’re missing some shots we maybe wouldn’t miss normally but on the other hand some of the things we’re improving are making us a better team. If we can make it to the weekend I think we’re going to see that work and hopefully, we can get past that quarterfinal if we can get there.”

Gunnlaugson, who won September’s Tour Challenge Tier 2 title, will play Toronto’s John Epping for a chance to qualify.

“I love the triple knockout. I’ve always been a huge fan of it,” Gunnlaugson said. “The pool play has its positives but the triple knockout as a competitor is a little more clean. You know what’s happening a little more, it’s more in front of you, kind of. But any Slam I can be in is a good Slam.”

Allison Flaxey of Caledon, Ont., held off Winnipeg’s Darcy Robertson 5-4 in an extra end during the women’s A-semifinals. Flaxey, who won the 2016 Masters title, faces Michelle Englot’s Winnipeg team for a playoff spot.

Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland fended off a late charge from Edmonton’s Val Sweeting to win 6-5 in the B brackets. Tirinzoni was up by four at the break, but Sweeting rallied to tie it with a deuce in five followed by steals in six and seven.

American Jamie Sinclair pummelled Alina Paetz of Switzerland 9-2 in another B-side battle. Sinclair and Tirinzoni remain in B with 1-1 records while Paetz and Sweeting fall to the last-chance C brackets at 0-2.

The Meridian Canadian Open resumes Thursday with Draw 7 at 8:30 a.m. MT.

Sixteen of the top men’s teams and 16 of the top women’s team from around the world are competing in the fourth tournament — and third major — of the 2017-18 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season.

NOTES: Winners of the Meridian Canadian Open earn berths to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup running April 24-29 at Calgary’s WinSport Arena. … Points are also up for grabs for the Bonus Cup, awarded to the overall season champions. … Television coverage begins Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on Sportsnet. Also watch online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) or gsoc.yaretv.com (international).

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