Undefeated Tirinzoni takes top seed for Tour Challenge playoffs
PICTOU COUNTY, N.S. — Reigning world champions Team Silvana Tirinzoni kept their perfect streak intact heading into the KIOTI Tractor Tour Challenge Tier 1 women’s playoffs.
The Swiss squad had already clinched a berth in the quarterfinals, but ensured themselves the No. 1 seed after escaping with a 7-6 victory Friday afternoon over compatriots Team Elena Stern.
Tirinzoni trailed by two but held the hammer coming home and fourth Alina Paetz just needed to make an open hit on her last to count the winning three points.
Although Team Tirinzoni and American squad Team Nina Roth both finished pool play with 4-0 records, Tirinzoni finished with a superior draw-to-the-button shootout total score to take the No. 1 seed.
Team Tirinzoni and Team Roth’s quarterfinal opponents have yet to be decided with tiebreakers set between four 2-2 teams: Winnipeg’s Team Jennifer Jones vs. Ottawa’s Team Rachel Homan and Team Robyn Silvernagle of North Battleford, Sask., vs. Team Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Man.
Silvernagle stayed in the mix by drawing for the win to clip Team Casey Scheidegger of Lethbridge, Alta., 5-4 while Einarson scored four in the eighth to beat Sweden’s Team Isabella Wrana 7-4.
Team Tracy Fleury of East St. Paul, Man., clinched a playoff spot with a 3-1 record after defeating Calgary’s Team Chelsea Carey 5-3.
Team Wrana and Team Scheidegger were eliminated with 1-3 records while Team Stern and Team Carey finished winless at 0-4.
Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin remained in contention on the Tier 1 men’s side picking up a 4-3 victory over Team Scott McDonald (0-4) of Kingston, Ont.
The double defending world champion Edin finished group play at 2-2 and awaits the results of the final men’s round-robin draw in the evening.
Both quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Saturday with the finals set for Sunday.
Up Next
Round-robin action continues at 8 p.m. AT / 4 p.m. ET at the Pictou County Wellness Centre with broadcast coverage on Sportsnet ONE featuring Team Mike McEwen vs. Team Bruce Mouat. Online streaming is available via Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).
Notes
The KIOTI Tractor Tour Challenge is the second of six events on the 2019-20 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling schedule. … Winners of the Tier 1 divisions earn $30,000 and berths to the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup. … Also up for grabs in the Tier 1 are Pinty’s Cup bonus points. The leaders following the conclusion of the Players’ Championship in April will capture the Pinty’s Cup with additional prize money awarded. … Winners of the Tier 2 divisions earn $10,000 and promotions to face the world’s best at the 2020 Meridian Canadian Open.
