News Players' Championship

TORONTO — Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones has locked up the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Bonus Cup just a little bit early.

Thanks to a solid season with wins at the Masters and Boost National, Jones was able to mathematically clinch the season title after qualifying for the playoffs at the Players’ Championship.

Jones doubled up on Ottawa’s Rachel Homan 8-4 during Thursday’s afternoon draw earning enough points for the $75,000 bonus prize.

“We had a great Grand Slam season this year so we knew coming into this we had to qualify to win that,” Team Jones lead Dawn McEwen said. “Mission accomplished and we’re really excited about that.”

Team Jones, who have won 24 consecutive games dating back to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in February, will look to continue their sensational play ahead of the playoffs with one more round-robin game remaining Friday against EunJung Kim of South Korea.

“We’re 4-0, feeling good and playing well,” McEwen said. “Just have one more game with some momentum going into the playoffs.”

Homan (0-4) has struggled in the tournament and faces Scotland’s Eve Muirhead to wrap up preliminary play.

The reigning world champion Jones raced out of the gate hitting for three points in the first end. Homan, who represented Canada at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, drew for two in the second to narrow the gap 3-2.

Jones, who also happens to be the defending Players’ champion, was forced to a single in the third but gained a couple freebies in the fourth and fifth ends as Homan gave up back-to-back single steals to fall behind 6-2.

After Homan drew for another deuce in six, Jones chipped in off her own to tack two more points on the board in seven and the gloves came off for handshakes.

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Meanwhile, Muirhead scored three in the seventh to topple Edmonton’s Team Rocque, skipped by Laura Crocker, 8-4.

Muirhead, who made her third appearance for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics, moved up to a 3-1 record with her third consecutive victory after losing to Jones in the opening draw.

“We came off of the Jones game, it was disappointing to lose, but it was a really, really good match to get us going and it could have gone either way towards the end,” Team Muirhead third Anna Sloan said. “We just knew if we kept building and concentrating on our own performance. We just came out to have fun, to be honest. It’s been a busy season. Getting three wins there is good. I’m not sure what that means just now but we’ve got another game tomorrow, so we’ll just try and come out firing again.”

Sloan said Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre is the team’s favourite venue and the Players’ Championship is their favourite competition, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering Team Muirhead has won the title three times in Toronto previously.

“The crowds are always good and the ice is always good,” Sloan said. “It’s just a great place to be in, Toronto. There’s always lots going on so it keeps the week busy.”

Team Rocque’s record fell to .500 after they won their first couple games Wednesday but have now dropped two straight.

Olympic gold medallist Anna Hasselborg of Sweden continued her strong run rolling to a 3-0 record. Hasselborg, who also grabbed silver at the world championship this year, earned a 6-2 win over Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni (1-2).

American Nina Roth took a 6-3 set over Kim. Roth and Kim now hold identical 1-2 records.

Winnipeg’s Kerri Einarson clipped Calgary’s Chelsea Carey 7-4 with both teams also at 1-2 in the tournament.

Round-robin action continues at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre at 8 p.m. ET with online streaming available at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare TV (international).