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NEWS RELEASE
Jennifer Jones and Shannon Kleibrink both work overtime to post victories during the opening draw of the season’s final Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event
In the women’s draw, Jennifer Jones’ (Winnipeg, Man.) bid for a third Players’ Championship title in four seasons began on a successful note this evening as the three-time Canadian champion edged Heather Rankin (Calgary, Alta.) 7-6 in an extra end.
Women’s top seed Shannon Kleibrink (Calgary, Alta.) also improved to 1-0 with a 7-6 extra end victory over last year’s finalist, Krista McCarville (Thunder Bay, Ont.).
Aiming to win his sixth career Players’ Championship title, Martin raced out to a 6-0 lead in the opening end. Already sitting four points heading into his final shot, Martin successfully executed a tap back for an additional two points and an insurmountable advantage.
“(The Players’ Championship) is my favourite event,” said Martin. “For me it’s always been, since I was a kid, the best playing the best. I love that. At the Players’ Championship the only way you get in is through ranking. There is no other way. That’s why I like it so much. Every game is against a top team. You get fired up. There are generally no easy ones, but Pat just had trouble tonight.”
Jones, also playing in her first tournament since representing Canada on the World Championship stage, jumped out in front of Rankin in the first end, executing an open hit to score three points.
Leading Rankin 5-4 in the seventh end, Jones attempted to blank the frame in order to keep the hammer heading into the final end. However, Jones’ plan unraveled as her last shot failed to roll out of the rings, giving her a two-point lead heading into the eighth end.
Holding the hammer in final frame, Renee Sonnenberg, substituting at skip for Heather Rankin’s team, made a hit for two points to send the game into an extra end.
Jones won the game in the ninth with a one-point draw to the four-foot.
“We weren’t as sharp as we’d like to be,” said Jones. “We made all the big shots when we had to and got the ‘W’ out of it. Hopefully, we’ll come back tomorrow and play better.”
Kleibrink picked up her first tournament victory this evening after rallying from deficits of 3-1 and 5-4 to defeat McCarville.
Trailing 5-4 in the seventh end, Kleibrink capitalized on a McCarville miscue to score an open draw for two points.
McCarville sent the game to an extra end in the eighth after tapping her rock to the button to score a single point.
Holding the hammer in the final frame, Kleibrink executed an open draw to the four-foot to win the game.
“It took us a few ends to adjust to the ice since it was swinging more than we’re used to,” said Kleibrink. “We were throwing well, but I wasn’t putting the broom in the right place for at least the first half.”
In other women’s action on Day 1, Cheryl Bernard (Calgary, Alta.) and Stefanie Lawton (Saskatoon, Sask.) both picked up their first victories of the tournament. Bernard moved to 1-0 after overpowering Barb Spencer (Winnipeg, Man.) 9-7 while Lawton scored two points in the eighth end for an 8-6 victory over Barb Spencer (Winnipeg, Man.).
In the only other men’s game on the opening day of the Grey Power Players’ Championship, recent 2009 Canadian Trials qualifier Kevin Koe (Edmonton, Alta.) executed a raised takeout on his final shot to edge Mike McEwen (Winnipeg, Man.) 6-5.
The Grey Power Players’ Championship represents the final opportunity for teams to earn points towards securing a direct berth into the 2009 Canadian Olympic Trials event or a spot into the 2009 Canadian Olympic Pre-Trials tournament.
The Grey Power Players’ Championship is also the final event where Canada’s men’s and women’s teams to earn points towards the Capital One Cup.
Featuring a $170,000 purse, the Capital One Cup is a points-based competition that awards each curling team a point value based on their performance during each 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event. Following the conclusion of the Grey Power Players’ Championship, the top men’s and women’s teams in the Capital One Cup standings will each receive a $50,000 (CDN) bonus. The second and third place men’s and women’s squads will each receive $25,000 (CDN) and $10,000 (CDN) respectively.
For a complete overview of this evening’s results, click here.
For a complete overview of the men’s tournament bracket for the Grey Power Players’ Championship, click here.
Featuring the top 16 men’s and the top 16 women’s teams from the 2008-09 season, Wednesday’s draw times for the Grey Power Players’ Championship are set for 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. MT respectively.
The top eight teams to advance through the knockout rounds will qualify for the tournament’s quarterfinals. The women’s quarterfinals are set for Friday, April 17 at 8:30 p.m. MT while the men’s quarterfinals will take place on Saturday, April 18 at 4:30 p.m. MT.
As the official television broadcaster of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling, CBC Television will air the women’s final on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m. MT and the men’s final on Sunday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. MT. Additionally, on Saturday, April 18, CBC’s digital channel bold will present live coverage of the men’s quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. MT and live coverage of the men’s semi-finals at 8:00 p.m. MT.
The men’s and women’s draw of the Grey Power Players’ Championship features a total purse of $100,000. Each tournament’s winning team will receive $25,000.
Held annually since 2001-02, the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is a series of eight premier men’s and women’s events that boast Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields.
The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is one of a select few events that are tied to the Canadian Curling Association's qualifying process for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Through their performance in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events, rinks can earn points towards securing a berth at the 2009 Canadian Trials or the 2009 Canadian Pre-Trials event.
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