News Masters

SELKIRK, Man. — Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones improved to a 2-1 record at the Masters Grand Slam of Curling with a 7-3 win over Edmonton’s Val Sweeting during Draw 8 Thursday.

The reigning Olympic gold medallist Jones opened the scoring with a three-ender in the second and led 5-1 after five ends thanks to a single in the fourth and a steal of one in the fifth with limiting Sweeting to a single in the third.

Sweeting (2-1) closed the gap with a deuce in the sixth, but Jones charged right back matching with a pair of her own in the seventh.

Elsewhere, reigning world champion Binia Feltscher of Switzerland remains the lone undefeated side in the women’s division at 3-0 after scoring two in the final end for a 6-5 win over Winnipeg’s Kristy McDonald (1-2).

Switzerland’s Alina Paetz (1-2) stole two in the fourth and swiped singles in the following three ends during an 8-3 win over Edmonton’s Chelsea Carey (1-1). 

Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni rallied to defeat Ottawa’s Rachel Homan 8-5. The double defending champion Homan (2-1) scored three in the fourth to hold a four-point lead at the break, but it was all Tirinzoni (2-1) in the second half with a single in the fifth followed by back-to-back steals of two in the sixth and four in the seventh.

In the lone men’s game, Toronto’s John Epping (2-0) scored three in the sixth during a 5-4 victory over Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud. The reigning world champion Ulsrud has been eliminated from playoff contention at 0-3.

The Masters continues with Draw 10 action at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT featuring Olympic men’s gold medallist Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., facing Calgary’s Kevin Koe on Sportsnet ONE.