News Masters

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Edmonton’s Kevin Martin eliminated defending champion Kevin Koe of Calgary 6-3 to advance to the Masters semifinals Saturday in Abbotsford, B.C.

Martin settled for a single in the first, but was able to build a 3-0 lead after Koe’s final shots in the second and third ends rolled heavy and resulted in back-to-back steals. Koe clawed back with a deuce in the fourth but the 17-time Grand Slam winner Martin scored three points in the sixth to pull away in the Battle of Alberta quarterfinal match.

Martin is set for a rematch against China’s Rui Liu, who scored a deuce in the second and stole three in the third in a 6-3 win over Denmark’s Rasmus Stjerne to advance. Liu edged Martin 7-6 in an extra end during the opening round-robin draw, but the Ol’ Bear has yet to lose again since riding a four-game win streak.

Meanwhile, Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., continued his roll in the tournament doubling up on Niklas Edin of Sweden 8-4 to reach the semifinals.

Howard, who went 4-0 through the round-robin, broke a 3-3 tie with a three-ender in the fifth. Edin was limited to a single in six and Howard tacked on two more points in the seventh to oust the reigning world champion.

Howard now plays Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton, who knocked out Scotland’s David Murdoch 6-4.

In women’s tiebreaker action, Ottawa’s Rachel Homan scored two pairs of deuces during a 5-1 win over Winnipeg’s Chelsea Carey in a repeat of last year’s final. Homan faces Edmonton’s Heather Nedohin in the quarterfinals.