Rocque rolls past Sidorova at Players’ Championship
TORONTO — Edmonton’s Kelsey Rocque has moved up to a 2-1 record at the Players’ Championship with an 8-4 victory over Anna Sidorova of Russia during Draw 7 Thursday afternoon at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre.
The world bronze medallist Sidorova is now even at 1-1 in the fourth major tournament of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season.
“That’s big for us,” Rocque said. “Definitely just take it one game at a time here. Every team is so hard to beat. We’re just here for experience and every win is a bonus for us so we’re excited.”
Sidorova opened with the hammer and drew for a single in the first while facing a covered counter. Rocque made a sick double takeout with her first skip stone in the second end that hid under a corner guard and then nailed an open hit with her last shot to score a deuce and a 2-1 lead.
Although Sidorova had a chance to draw for two in the third, her last shot crashed on a guard and she had to settle for the equalizing single rather than regain the lead. Rocque added another pair in the fourth to jump back ahead and caught a break in the fifth end when Sidorova came up light on a draw to steal four and pad her lead to 8-2. Sidorova was limited to a single in six and shook hands after stealing one in seven.
“Our team played pretty good so we’re confident now,” Rocque said. “I think we’ve got a good hold of the ice and we’re playing well.”
Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland earned a 7-3 win over reigning Canadian champion Chelsea Carey of Calgary. Tirinzoni, the Tour Challenge Tier 1 winner, climbed to a 2-0 record while Carey remains winless at 0-3.
In men’s division action, world champion Kevin Koe of Calgary broke a tie with a deuce in the seventh end during a 5-3 win over Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers. Koe continues to cruise with a 3-0 record while Carruthers has lost two straight to fall to 1-2.
Niklas Edin of Sweden drew for a single in eighth end to edge defending champion Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. 6-5. Both teams hold 2-1 records.
Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., scored three in the seventh for a 6-3 victory over Charley Thomas of Calgary. Howard picked up his first win to improve to 1-2 while Thomas slipped to 0-3.
NOTES: The Players’ Championship is the fourth major and sixth event of the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season and runs through to Sunday at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre. … The Rogers Grand Slam Cup will also be awarded to the overall season champions following the conclusion of the Players’ Championship. Rachel Homan mathematically clinched the women’s title with the men’s champion to be determined. … Winners of the Players’ Championship earn berths to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup running April 26 to May 1 in Sherwood Park, Alta.
