Curling fans got their money’s worth at the Pinty’s Elite 10 Grand Slam of Curling championship final Sunday at The Q Centre.
Brad Gushue needed a tiebreaker draw to the button to defeat Reid Carruthers, after neither team was able to break the tie in the eighth end. The win, the sixth straight without a loss at the four-day showdown, earned Gushue’s St. John’s, NL rink top money of $27,500.
The route the 2006 Olympic champion took to the title was similar to the night before’s semifinal against Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock, although not quite as dramatic. In the single-shot tiebreaker, both skips landed on the button, but Gushue’s effort was a mere half-inch closer.
Other members on the championship win were third Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker.
Team Carruthers from Winnipeg eliminated recently crowned Tim Horton’s Brier champion Kevin Koe of Alberta in the other semifinal Saturday night when their skip outdrew Koe to the button.
The final saw each team win three ends, while two were “pushed” (no end awarded), including the eighth. Gushue, up 3-2 playing the seventh, had a chance to clinch, but couldn’t make good on a difficult angle raise double takeout attempt, allowing Carruthers to steal two and tie the game.
Team Gushue went 4-0 in the round robin to clinch one of the semifinal berths, while Carruthers went 3-1 to do the same.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
