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
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.
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.
The men’s playoff situation would become clearer after a final draw on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2023.
