Einarson beats Homan in wild showdown, advances to playoffs at Grand Slam opener

By: The Canadian Press Posted: 6:21 PM CDT Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 Last Modified: 11:39 PM CDT Friday, Oct. 20, 2023

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - Kerri Einarson earned a playoff spot at the Grand Slam of Curling's HearingLife Tour Challenge with a wild 7-5 win over Rachel Homan on Friday.

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NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - Kerri Einarson earned a playoff spot at the Grand Slam of Curling's HearingLife Tour Challenge with a wild 7-5 win over Rachel Homan on Friday.

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NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – Kerri Einarson earned a playoff spot at the Grand Slam of Curling’s HearingLife Tour Challenge with a wild 7-5 win over Rachel Homan on Friday.

Einarson was up 7-0 after four ends, but the four-time defending Canadian women’s champion had to fend off a furious comeback from Homan.

Homan, the event’s defending champion, scored three in the fifth end and then had back-to-back steals of one, but it wasn’t enough.

Kerri Einarson, Canada, in action during the match between Norway and Canada during the semi finals of the LGT World Women's Curling Championship at Goransson Arena in Sandviken, Sweden, Saturday March 25, 2023. Kerri Einarson earned a playoff spot at the Grand Slam of Curling's HearingLife Tour Challenge with a wild 7-5 win over Rachel Homan on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Jonas Ekstromer, TT

Einarson, from Gimli, Man., moved on with a 3-2 record, while Homan, of Beaumont, Alta., was eliminated at 2-2.

Elsewhere, Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg finished the round-robin at 4-0 following a 7-5 win over Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones. Jones finished 2-2 but advanced based on shootout scores.

Italy’s Stefania Constantini (3-1) stole a point in an extra end to edge South Korea’s Seung-Youn Ha. The loss eliminated Ha (1-3) and moved Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes (2-2) into the playoffs.

Winnipeg’s Kate Cameron (1-3) earned a 9-3 victory over Vancouver’s Clancy Grandy (0-4). Neither skip advanced to the playoffs.

On the men’s side, the playoff picture was finalized with the last draw of the day.

Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers (2-2) squeezed in with a 4-3 win over Scotland’s Ross Whyte (3-1), who had already qualified for the quarterfinals.

Olympic champion Niklas Edin of Sweden (2-2) defeated Calgary’s Kevin Koe (2-2) 9-4 to get into the playoffs on shootout scores.

Italy’s Joel Retornaz (3-1) suffered his only loss on Friday, a 6-4 defeat to Scotland’s Bruce Mouat (1-3), but already qualified.

The rest of the quarterfinal picture consists of Brad Gushue (3-1) of St. John’s, N.L.; Matt Dunstone (3-1) of Kamloops, B.C.; Switzerland’s Team Yannick Schwaller (3-1); and Brendan Bottcher (2-2) of Spruce Grove, Alta., who also made it through on shootout scores.

John Shuster (2-2) of the U.S. earned a 4-3 victory over Japan’s Riku Yanagisawa (1-3) on Friday, but both fell short of the playoffs.

Play continues through Sunday at Gale Centre.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2023.