Homan evens record at Players’ Championship with win over Hasselborg

CALGARY — Rachel Homan evened her record at the Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championship with a 7-4 win over Anna Hasselborg on Wednesday.

Homan, seeking to extend her record with a 12th Grand Slam title, rebounded after giving up three to her Swedish opponent in the first end and put the game away with a steal of two in the eighth. 

Homan’s Ottawa based rink improved to 1-1, while Hasselborg’s foursome dropped to 1-1. 

South Korea’s Minji Kim and Scotties champion Kerri Einarson are both 2-0 to lead Pool A, while Russia’s Alina Kovaleva also improved to 2-0 to sit atop Pool B with a 7-4 win over Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones (1-1). 

Scotland’s Bruce Mouat, seeking his second straight Grand Slam title, leads Pool A on the men’s side. He is the only skip at 3-0 with a 7-2 win over Swedish world champion Niklas Edin (2-1) and a 6-4 victory against Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., (1-2) on Day 2. 

Edin bounced back in the evening draw with a 5-2 win over 2021 Brier champion Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton (0-3), who remains winless.

Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., and Switzerland’s Yannick Shwaller lead Pool B at 2-0.

Round-robin play continues Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2021.

The Canadian Press