News Canadian Open

CAMROSE, Alta. — The rematch of the Manitoba Scotties final between Darcy Robertson and Jennifer Jones at the Meridian Canadian Open wasn’t a repeat.

Robertson got the upper hand this time around securing a 5-3 victory Wednesday in their A side first-round match.

Sixteen of the top men’s teams and 16 of the top women’s team from around the world are competing in the Meridian Canadian Open. The fourth tournament of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season features a triple knockout preliminary format where teams must win three games before they lose three in order to qualify for the weekend playoffs. Eight teams in both divisions advance.

Robertson (1-0) stays A side while Jones (0-1) now drops to the B brackets.

It was singles going steady to start with the Winnipeg-based teams alternating points back and forth through the first half. Robertson stole one in the fifth end to pull ahead 3-2. The teams split singles again in six and seven with Robertson up one but Jones holding the hammer coming home.

While Jones was able to score two in the final frame to top Robertson 7-6 in the provincial final Sunday, that wasn’t the case here as she wrecked on a guard with her last to concede another point.

Team Jones gives up a steal in the 8th as Team Robertson gets one more in a 5-3 win. #GSOC #CanadianOpen #curling pic.twitter.com/arjrXUyUwK

— Grand Slam of Curling (@grandslamcurl) January 17, 2018

Team Jones will be without third Kaitlyn Lawes for the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts as she is off to represent Canada with John Morris in mixed doubles at the Winter Olympics. Shannon Birchard has been drafted as her temporary replacement and the 23-year-old from Winnipeg was in Lawes’ spot in the lineup Wednesday.

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Ottawa’s Rachel Homan defeated American Jamie Sinclair 7-2 in their first-round A game.

Meanwhile in men’s play, BOOST National champion Bruce Mouat of Scotland upended Kevin Koe’s Calgary team 6-4 in A side action.

Edmonton’s Team Brendan Bottcher, with Steve Laycock subbing at skip, took a 6-3 victory over China’s Rui Liu and Sweden’s Niklas Edin scored four in the seventh to slip past John Morris’s team from Vernon, B.C., 7-4 in the B brackets.

The action continues with Draw 5 at 4 p.m. MT.

NOTES: Winners of the Meridian Canadian Open earn berths to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup running April 24-29 at Calgary’s WinSport Arena. … Points are also up for grabs for the Bonus Cup, awarded to the overall season champions. … Television coverage begins Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on Sportsnet. Also watch online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) or gsoc.yaretv.com (international).