Stoughton tops Brier champion Gushue at Elite 10 Grand Slam event

PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S. – Brad Jacobs and Jeff Stoughton are the early leaders at the Elite 10 — the fifth stop on the Grand Slam of Curling tour.

Jacobs, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Winnipeg’s Stoughton are both 2-0 after picking up victories in evening play on Thursday at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre.

Jacobs downed Calgary’s Kevin Koe after beating Sweden’s Niklas Edin earlier in the day while Stoughton toppled Brier champion Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., after starting his day with a victory over Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock.

The Grand Slam event features a match-play format.

In the other evening draw, Toronto’s John Epping downed Switzerland’s Peter De Cruz.

Edin, Epping, De Cruz, and Gushue are all 1-1 through three draws. John Morris of Vernon, B.C., is 1-0 while Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers (0-2), Koe (0-2) and Laycock (0-1) are winless.

There are three more round-robin draws set for Friday. The playoffs begin Saturday and the final is set for Sunday.