Brad Jacobs, Val Sweeting qualify for playoff round at Canadian Open

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. – Brad Jacobs and Niklas Edin are the first two skips on the men’s side to qualify for the playoffs at the Canadian Open.

Jacobs and his rink from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., downed Calgary’s Kevin Koe 8-4 on Thursday in the A-finals to advance in the triple-knockout Grand Slam event.

Edin, from Sweden, grabbed his place with a 7-6 win over American John Shuster in the other A-final.

Koe falls to the B-side of the brackets and will play John Morris of Vernon, B.C., next, while Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., faces Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen in Group B play. Both draws go Friday.

On the women’s side, Edmonton’s Val Sweeting and Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni have moved on to the playoff round after winning their final draws on Thursday.

Sweeting scored a 6-3 victory over Jacqueline Harrison of Mississauga, Ont., to book her place in the elimination group.

Tirinzoni, meanwhile, made it straight through to the playoffs following an 8-3 win over Winnipeg’s Michelle Englot.

Eight teams will qualify for the playoff round on both the men’s and women’s side through a triple-knockout format where they must win three games before they lose three in order to avoid elimination.

The playoffs begin Saturday and the finals are scheduled for Sunday.