It’s down to eight teams after starting with 35 duos at the Canadian mixed doubles curling championship.
Three teams with Manitoba players won qualifying round games Tuesday night. Shannon Birchard and Catlin Schneider downed Emma Miskew and Ryan Fry 10-6, Kadriana Sahaidak and Colton Lott beat Mackenzie Mitchell and Greg Smith 8-3 and Kerri Einarson and Brad Gushue got by Brittany Tran and Aaron Sluchinski 9-8.
Lisa Weagle and John Epping topped Valerie Sweeting and Marc Kennedy 7-5 as well to set up a match against top-seeded Laura Walker and Kurt Muyres – the only undefeated pairing remaining at the tournament after going 6-0 in pool play.
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Sahaidak and Lott will face No. 2 seeds Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, Einarson and Gushue get No. 3 seeds Jennifer Jones
and Brent Laing, while Birchard and Schneider are against No. 4 seeds Danielle Schmiemann and John Morris – with every matchup scheduled for Wednesday morning.
The winners will advance to the Page seeding round, with the gold-medal game Thursday.
The top 12 teams emerged from five pools to playoffs Tuesday, with the top four receiving first-round byes in the qualifying round and the other eight meeting head to head for a chance to move on.
The winners earn $50,000 and represent Canada at the world championship if and when the World Curling Federation names a date and a location.