Quarterfinals set at National Grand Slam of Curling after three tiebreakers
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. — Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L. suffered his first loss of the Grand Slam season at the National, falling 5-2 to John Morris of Vernon, B.C., on Friday in their final round-robin game.
The loss dropped Gushue to 3-1 — still good for first place in Pool A and a guaranteed playoff spot — while handing him his first defeat at a Grand Slam of Curling event. Gushue went unbeaten to win both the season-opening Tour Challenge in September and the Masters last month.
It was the only victory of the tournament for Morris (1-3), who didn’t advance to Saturday’s playoffs.
Gushue had to wait to find out his playoff opponent. The men’s side needed three tiebreakers to determine the playoff seedings after six teams finished the preliminary round 2-2.