Gushue Wins Opening Draw at Co-op Canadian Open Whilst Lawes Loses

Summary:

• Brad Gushue defeated Reid Carruthers during a Canadian skips matchup at the Co-op Canadian Open.
• The top 8 of 16 men’s and women’s teams will advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals in Nisku, Alberta.
• Jason Ackerman defeated Owen Purcell in the clash of unbeaten skips at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship.

Brad Gushue claimed victory over Reid Carruthers with a decisive 6-1 win on Tuesday morning at the Co-op Canadian Open, the second Grand Slam of Curling event of the season that reunites 16 of the top men’s and 16 of the top women’s teams from all parts of the world. 

The Newfoundland and Labrador-based pro curler secured the win by scoring three points in the sixth end against Carruthers, who hails from Winnipeg.

Results of the Day

Meanwhile, other matchups at the Co-op Canadian Open in the men’s field saw Italy’s Joel Retornaz earn an 8-3 win over Calgary’s Kevin Koe. 

In an international showdown, Sweden’s Niklas Edin defeated Scotland’s James Craik by the same score, while Scotland’s Ross Whyte triumphed over Switzerland’s Michael Brunner with a 7-4 final. 

During the third draw of the day, Calgary’s Brad Jacobs scored a critical two points in the seventh end, holding on to beat Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone 4-2. 

In another notable matchup, Saskatoon’s Mike McEwen scored consecutive two-point ends in the fifth and sixth, leading him to a 9-3 win over John Shuster from Duluth, Minnesota.

Women’s Opening Draw: Winnipeg’s Lawes Loses to Italy’s Constantini 

The women’s opening draw, held later on Tuesday, saw Italy’s Stefania Constantini score three points in the fourth end, leading her to a 7-3 victory over Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes. 

Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa also had a close 4-3 win over Switzerland’s Xenia Schwaller, while in an all-South Korean matchup, Eun-ji Gim emerged victorious over Seung-youn Ha. 

Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni rounded out the women’s matches with a 6-4 win over Japan’s Ikue Kitazawa.

The late women’s draw featured a hard-fought win by Sweden’s Isabella Wrana, who scored two points in the sixth end and stole single points in the seventh and eighth, narrowly edging out South Korea’s Mi-Yeong Kim with a 7-5 score. 

Meanwhile, Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Manitoba, took an early 5-0 lead in the first two ends, coasting to a 9-3 victory over Edmonton’s Selenay Sturmay.

The tournament format consists of 16 teams in both men’s and women’s categories. Each team competes in a round-robin within their four-team pool, with one crossover game based on seeding. 

After pool play, the top eight teams in each division advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals in Nisku, Alta. The finals are set for Sunday, promising intense competition as teams aim for the championship.

Ackerman’s Regina Stays Undefeated After Victory Against Pucerll’s Halifax

Elsewhere, at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in St. Catharines, Ontario, Jason Ackerman’s team from Regina’s Highland Curling Club has remained undefeated after eight draws. 

Ackerman, alongside teammates Amber Holland, Sam Wills, and Colleen Ackerman, secured a 6-3 victory by scoring three in the eighth end against Owen Purcell’s Halifax team. 

This win puts Ackerman’s team at the top of Pool A with a 4-0 record, while Purcell’s team, now at 4-1, sits in second place.

In parallel, Ryan Wiebe’s team from Fort Rouge Curling Club in Winnipeg edged Quebec’s Don Bowser 5-4, putting both teams at 4-1 and tied for the top spot in Pool B.

In other matches, Kurt Alan Balderston’s Grande Prairie team defeated Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories 10-3 in six ends, moving into second place in Pool B with a 3-1 record. 

Trent Skanes of Newfoundland and Labrador narrowly beat Northern Ontario’s Dylan Johnston 9-7, claiming third place in Pool A with a 3-1 record.

Three draws are scheduled for Wednesday, with the championship final set for Saturday.