News Elite 10

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., edged Calgary’s Kevin Koe 2-up in the opening draw of the Syncrude Elite 10, the all-new Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event Thursday. 

The non-major Syncrude Elite 10 tournament uses match play rules. Teams compete to win the most ends by either scoring two or more points (with hammer) or steal at least one point (without hammer). A blank results in loss of hammer similar to a skins game, however, the unclaimed point does not carry over to the next end.

The reigning Olympic gold medallist Jacobs was up by one with the hammer coming home. Koe’s final shot was the lone stone in the house biting the 12-foot circle and Jacobs drew, to the button no less, to seal the victory.

Elsewhere, Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen stole the fourth end and added another steal in seven to beat Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 2-and-1. 

Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., defeated Toronto’s John Epping 3-and-1 to win in his opening match. Epping picked up a point stealing the second end, but Gushue stole the fourth and fifth ends to pull ahead and swiped the sixth and seventh ends to bring out the handshakes.