Epping, Bottcher reach final at Canadian Open Grand Slam of Curling event

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. — Toronto’s John Epping made quick work of Sweden’s Niklas Edin to earn a spot back in the Canadian Open final.

Epping scored four in the first end and was up 9-1 when the two skips shook hands after only five ends in their tournament semifinal on Saturday.

Epping, who won the Canadian Open in 2016, will face Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher in Sunday’s final on the fifth stop of the Grand Slam of Curling circuit.

Bottcher toppled two-time champion Brad Gushue of St. John’s N.L., 6-5 in the other semi.

Gushue looked to be on his way back to the championship draw with a 5-4 lead in the final end, but Bottcher scored two to advance.

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On the women’s side it’ll be Ottawa’s Rachel Homan going for her second Canadian Open title against Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni.

Homan, who won in 2016, beat American Nina Roth 6-4 on Saturday in the semifinals, while Tirinzoni doubled up 2015 champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland 8-4 in the other semi.

The winning teams take home $30,000 from the $125,000 purse on the line in both the men’s and women’s divisions. A runner-up finish is worth $18,000.

The Canadian Press