Homan tops Constantini to start run at Princess Auto Players’ Championship

TORONTO — Ottawa’s Team Rachel Homan opened their run in the Princess Auto Players’ Championship with a 7-1 victory over Team Stefania Constantini of Italy on Tuesday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

The reigning world champions, who have also captured consecutive Grand Slams entering the season finale, improved their record to 63-5 as they look to close out an outstanding year on a high note.

“We know it’s going to be tough coming off a high like that, but we just want to keep doing what we’re doing,” said Team Homan second Emma Miskew. “We’re excited to be here and excited to finish off the season together in Toronto in our home province. It’ll be fun. We’re trying to enjoy it, too.”

Miskew added: “It’s great. We have some family and friends here, too. It’s nice to be playing back at home and back in the Grand Slams.”

Although Homan didn’t open with the hammer, the 15-time Grand Slam title winner stole back-to-back points to start. Constantini missed a double takeout in the first, giving up a point after a measure, and conceded another in the second as she was too soft on a tap that came up short.

After Constantini settled for a single on the third, Homan drew to the button in the fourth to hold a 4-1 advantage.

Constantini was light on the draw in the sixth to hand over three more points and shook hands.

“It’s good to get the win,” Miskew said. “It was definitely a little bit tricky for us. We definitely weren’t firing but that wasn’t all that surprising coming into the event after the worlds — very different surface.

“It’s nice. It just seemed a little bit tougher for both teams but it’s nice to get the win in the end.”

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Elsewhere in Draw 2, South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim stole the winning point in the extra end to clip Team Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Man., 5-4.

In men’s action, Team Kevin Koe doubled up on Team Brendan Bottcher 6-3 in a clash of Calgary-based clubs.

Team Yannick Schwaller of Switzerland scored two in the extra end to edge Winnipeg’s Team Matt Dunstone 6-4.

NOTES

The Princess Auto Players’ Championship is the fifth and final Grand Slam of Curling event of the 2023-24 season featuring the top 12 men’s teams and top 12 women’s teams from around the world. … Both divisions are split into two pools of six for round-robin play. The best six teams advance to the playoffs with the top two teams receiving byes to the semifinals. If necessary, tiebreakers will be played Saturday morning to determine the final playoff berths. … The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Saturday with the finals on tap Sunday.

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