Gushue edges Edin to begin run at Princess Auto Players’ Championship
It was a rematch but not a repeat of the world championship final between Canada’s Team Brad Gushue and Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin during Tuesday’s evening draw of the Princess Auto Players’ Championship.
While Edin earned the gold Sunday in Switzerland, Gushue and his crew from St. John’s, N.L., came out on top this time 6-5 to start in the win column at the Grand Slam of Curling season finale.
Team Gushue (81) also just barely edged out Team Edin (80) in shooting percentages.
“It feels good to get off to a winning start,” Gushue said. “I wouldn’t say it was either of our best. I think the energy levels are a little bit low, but getting a win early on in the competition against a team like Nik, I think it puts us in a good position.
“Now, hopefully, we can get some rest. We’ve got a two-game day tomorrow, which is going to be a challenge again, but we’re certainly in a better position with a win than we would have been had we lost that game.”
It doesn’t get any easier for both teams as their six-team pool is comprised entirely of skips who have won the Princess Auto Players’ Championship before.
Gushue is set to face Scotland’s Team Bruce Mouat and Winnipeg’s Team Brad Jacobs on Wednesday followed by Calgary’s Team Kevin Koe on Thursday and Calgary’s Team Brendan Bottcher on Friday.
“It’s tough. We played Bruce in the semifinal last week and now we play Bruce tomorrow, so we go Bruce-Nik-Nik-Bruce to start this and then we still have Brendan, Brad and Kevin,” Gushue said.
“It’s an extremely tough pool and that’s why tonight’s win was so important because you get behind early and then you look and there’s four teams you have to play knowing you have to win three of them. That’s a pretty daunting task.”
Although Gushue opened with the hammer, Edin struck the scoreboard first stealing back-to-back singles to lead 2-0.
Gushue rebounded big time in the third and capped things off with an open draw for three points to take the lead.
Edin tapped for two in the fourth to jump back ahead 4-3 heading into the break, but his double attempt in five missed, and Gushue capitalized to draw for another three points and a 6-4 advantage.
