News Masters

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Jennifer Jones thumped Chelsea Carey 7-1 in an all-Winnipeg match during Draw 8 of the Grand Slam of Curling’s Masters on Thursday.

Jones (2-1) scored two in the third to break a 1-1 tie and pulled away with single steals in the fourth and sixth ends and a steal of two in the seventh. Carey (1-2) only managed to score a single in the second and last year’s runner-up is now in must-win mode to stay in contention.

The four-time Players’ Championship winner Jones opened the tournament with an 11-5 win over Ji-Sun Kim of South Korea and dropped her second match 6-4 against Russia’s Anna Sidorova. Carey lost 6-5 to Kim and beat American Erika Brown 6-2.

Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., improved to 2-1 with a deuce in the final end to win 7-6 over Mirjam Ott of Switzerland. The 2012 world champion Ott wrapped up pool play early and is moving on to Saturday’s quarterfinals with a 3-1 record.

In men’s play, Edmonton’s Kevin Martin stole two points in the final end to defeat Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton 7-6. Both teams now hold 2-1 records. Stoughton held the hammer coming home but was facing four counters and fired his last shot too hard to only take out two of Martin’s rocks.

Five-time Masters champion Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., scored three in the seventh to beat Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen 5-2. Howard (3-0) ran the table at the Players’ Championship with a perfect 7-0 record to end last season including a 4-3 win over McEwen in the final. McEwen has been eliminated from playoff contention at 0-3.

Toronto’s John Epping (2-2) capped his round-robin with a 6-4 win over defending champion Kevin Koe (2-1).