CURLING: Epping completes career Grand Slam with Masters win

Canadian skip John Epping (Photo: Grand Slam of Curling, by Anil Mungal)

It took 11 seasons, but Canada’s John Epping finally got his career Grand Slam in the Grand Slam of Curling circuit with a win in The Masters at the Rath Eastlink Arena in Truro, Nova Scotia.

Epping skipped winning teams in Grand Slam events in 2008 (The National), 2012 (The Players’ Championship) and 2015 (Canadian Open), but finally got his fourth title and the career slam with a 7-4 win over two-time World Champion Kevin Koe (CAN). Epping’s rink kept the pressure on with two points each in the first, fifth and eighth ends for the win.

American skip John Shuster won his group, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Scotland’s Bruce Mouat (who later lost to Koe).

In the women’s final, Sweden’s Olympic champion Anna Hasselborg showed why she has the hottest rink in curling by scoring three points in the final end to score an 8-7 win over Canada’s 2017 World Champion Rachel Homan, and win her second straight Grand Slam of Curling title this season. Summaries:

Grand Slam of Curling/The Masters
Truro (CAN) ~ 23-28 October 2018
(Full results here)

Men: 1. John Epping (CAN); 2. Kevin Koe (CAN); 3. Bruce Mouat (SCO) and Niklas Edin (SWE). Semis: Koe d. Moutat, 6-5; Epping d. Edin, 8-3. Finals: Epping d. Koe, 7-4.

Women: 1. Rachel Homan (CAN); 2. Anna Hasselborg (SWE); 3. Casey Schneidegger (CAN) and Chelsea Carey (CAN). Semis: Homan d. Carey, 6-3; Hasselborg d. Schneidegger, 8-4. Final: Homan d. Hasselborg d. Homan, 8-7.