News Masters

SELKIRK, Man. — Calgary’s John Morris edged Switzerland’s Peter de Cruz 6-5 to win in his season debut during Draw 5 Wednesday night at the Masters Grand Slam of Curling.

The 10-time Grand Slam champion Morris linked up with third Pat Simmons, second Carter Rycroft and lead Nolan Thiessen this season after moving on from skip Kevin Koe but opting to remain together to retain the Team Canada berth for the Brier. Rycroft originally planned to step back this season but will play a partial schedule with Ontario’s Scott Bailey is filling in at second during Grand Slam of Curling events this season.

Thiessen said they had a really good week training prior to the Masters in preparation of their first tournament of the year with other teams having hit the road as early as late August.

“I know we thought we might be a little behind some of the other teams but we still know how to curl,” Thiessen said. “It doesn’t mean we’re just going to be out here getting spanked so we were prepared and we just had a plan and hopefully we play pretty well. There were a few things that we need to tighten up but it was a good start.”

Morris showed no signs of rust early getting out to a hot start leading 5-1 after scoring three in the first and a deuce in the third. The teams traded singles through the fourth and fifth ends and De Cruz added a deuce in the seventh to close the gap 6-4. De Cruz (0-2) had a pair of rocks sitting in the house in the eighth, but Morris hit and stuck around to only concede one and hold on.

Thiessen, who is originally from Manitoba, said it’s fun to be back playing in his home province.

“I have family in the stands and it’s more than just my family at home sitting there watching on the internet,” Thiessen said. “It’s exciting to be back in Manitoba, it’s my home so I like it.” 

Elsewhere, Toronto’s John Epping also held on late to defeat Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton 5-4. Epping (1-0) stole singles in the first and second ends to open the scoring. After Stoughton (1-1) got on board with one in the fourth, Epping earned a deuce in the fifth and stole yet another point to lead 5-1. Stoughton bounced back with a deuce in the seventh but could only get a steal of one in the final end.

Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., scored the decisive deuce in the seventh end to defeat Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud 6-4. Gushue improved to a 1-1 record while Ulsrud, the reigning world champion, has dropped to 0-2.

Reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Jacobs, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., fell 8-1 in four ends during his first game of the tournament to Steve Laycock of Saskatoon. Laycock (2-0) scored a deuce in the first and stole three in the second. Jacobs (0-1) settled for one in the third and Laycock added three more in the fourth.

In the women’s division, Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones scored four in the seventh end to close out an 11-3 victory over Edmonton’s Heather Nedohin. Jones jumped out with a three-ender in the first and a steal of two in the second to lead 5-0. Nedohin scored two in the third and Jones replied with a deuce of her own in the fifth. Jones (1-1) bounced back from a 6-1 loss to Alli Flaxey of Listowel, Ont., in Tuesday’s opening draw. Nedohin, who fell to Val Sweeting 7-4 in the morning draw, now holds an 0-2 record.

The Masters continues with Draw 6 Thursday at 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT.