News Canadian Open

YORKTON, Sask. — Reigning world champion Alina Paetz of Switzerland powered past Scotland’s Eve Muirhead 9-3 Wednesday afternoon in the Meridian Canadian Open at the Gallagher Centre.

Paetz improved to a 2-0 record and advanced to the A-qualifiers of the triple knockout portion against Ottawa’s Rachel Homan.

“It feels pretty good,” Paetz said. “We struggled a bit over the last couple weeks and feels great to be back like this and especially on a Slam.” 

After giving up a steal in the first end, Paetz earned a three-ender in the second and stole two in the third to go ahead 5-1. The teams alternated points in four and five, Paetz forced Muirhead to another single in six and nailed a double takeout with her last shot in seven for the three-count that brought out the handshakes.

“We came out strong and it makes it easier for us for the rest of the game,” Paetz said. “But it’s always a big fight against Eve and good for us to win.” 

“It’s pretty good to decide the game like that but I was a little bit lucky because I thought it was a little outside but it worked,” she added. “A good win for us.” 

Homan, who has won the past two Grand Slam women’s titles, moved up to a 2-0 record on the day with a 6-1 win over Binia Feltscher of Switzerland. The Masters and National champion Homan must be a fan of Rush pulling off a 2112 scoreline with a deuce in the first followed by single steals in the second and third plus a steal of two in the fourth. Feltscher was forced to one point in five. 

Elsewhere in A-side action, Edmonton’s Val Sweeting (1-0) got the single in the extra end for a 7-6 win over Tracy Fleury (0-1) of Sudbury, Ont. 

Meanwhile, Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., defeated Saskatoon’s Stefanie Lawton 6-2 in a B-side battle. Middaugh (1-1) took two in the second and stole one in the fourth to lead 3-0 at the break. Lawton (0-2) came back with a deuce in five but Middaugh added a single in six and stole two coming home. 

Calgary’s Chelsea Carey scored four in the seventh and ran EunJung Kim of South Korea out of rocks in eight to win 9-6. Carey stays in the B bracket with a 1-1 record while Kim dropped to C-side at 0-2 and must win three straight to avoid elimination and qualify for the playoffs. 

NOTES: The Meridian Canadian Open is the fourth stop — and third major — on the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season and runs through to Sunday. … The event features a triple knockout where teams must win three games before they lose three in order to qualify for the playoffs. … Watch live coverage of the Meridian Canadian Open on Sportsnet starting Thursday at noon ET / 9 a.m. PT.