The top six seeds in the Viterra Championship at Eric Coy Arena all won their single games on Thursday to improve their records to 2W-0L. All will play at 8:30AM in the A-Side qualifiers games. The winners will advance to the next round of play.
Seventh seed JT Ryan and eighth seed Dennis Bohn ( both Assiniboine Memorial) lost their first games Thursday but bounced back to win second games and stay alive in the competition. Ryan needed an extra end steal to beat Darren Perche (Charleswood) on the late draw.
The original field of 32 has been reduced to 16. Eight more will be eliminated across the first three draws Friday with the late draw Friday being the first round of play in the eight-team championship round.
The first teams in the final eight will be identified on the 8:30AM draw Friday when the featured match-ups are:
#1 Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) vs Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge)
#2 Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) vs Ryan Wiebe St. Vital)
#3 Tanner Horgan (Winnipeg Beach) vs #6 Corey Chambers (Thistle)
#4 Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) vs #5 William Lyburn (Granite)
TOP 8 SEEDS THURSDAY RESULTS
1- Mike McEwen (West St Paul) 2W-0L after a Thursday win: 8-2 over Jordan Smith (Deer Lodge)
2- Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 2W-0L after a Thursday win: 7-6 over Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial)
3-Tanner Horgan (Winnipeg Beach) 2W-0L after a Thursday win: 9-1 over Kelly Marnoch (Carberry)
4- Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) 2W-0L after a Thursday win: 8-1 over Trevor Loreth (Granite)
5- William Lyburn (Granite) 2W-0L after a Thursday win: 8-7EE over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial)
6- Corey Chambers (Thistle) 2W-0L after a Thursday win: 6-5 over Steve Irwin (Brandon)
7- JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 2W-1L after a Thursday 9-5 loss to Ryan Wiebe (St Vital) AND an extra end 9-5 win over Darren Perche (Charleswood).
8- Dennis Bohn (Assiniboine Memorial) 2W-1L after a Thursday 6-5 loss to Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) AND an 11-7 win over Graham Freeman (Virden)
