Martin tops Koe to reach Players’ Championship playoffs
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Edmonton’s Kevin Martin advanced to the playoffs at the Players’ Championship following a 5-2 win over Calgary’s Kevin Koe during Friday’s Draw 12 action at Credit Union Place.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion Martin, who wrapped up pool play with a 3-2 record, settled for one in the fifth to break a 2-2 tie and added single steals in the sixth and seventh ends. Koe also advances with a 4-1 record.
Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen capped the round-robin with a perfect 5-0 record following a 7-6 win over Olympic champion Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. McEwen, who received a bye straight to the semifinals, held the hammer coming home tied and cooly drew to the button while facing three counters. Jacobs (2-2) has one more round-robin match against Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton at 8:30 p.m. AT.
Meanwhile, Stoughton defeated Sven Michel of Switzerland 6-2. Stoughton (2-2) scored a deuce in the second and followed up with steals of two in the third and one in the fourth to jump out to a convincing 5-0 lead. Michel (0-5) settled for one in the fifth to break the shutout and stole a single in the sixth, but shook hands when Stoughton added another point in the seventh.
