Tracy Fleury extends his winning streak to book a playoff berth in the Olympic curling trials. The playoff scenario began to take shape Thursday in Canada’s Olympic curling trials. Round-robin leaders Brad Gushue and Tracy Fleury both won to advance to the weekend. Gushue improved to 6-1 with a 10-1 victory over Tanner Horgan, while Fleury improved to 6-0 with an 11-7 victory over Laura Walker.
With a win against Casey Scheidegger on Thursday evening, Fleury will be the first seed in the women’s draw.
In the morning session at SaskTel Centre, Rachel Homan defeated Jennifer Jones 7-5, Krista McCarville defeated Kelsey Rocque 8-7, and Scheidegger defeated Jacqueline Harrison 7-6.
WATCH | Fleury defeats Walker to secure playoff spot:
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Tracy Fleury scored a pair of triples on her route to an 11-7 victory over Laura Walker’s rink at the Canadian Olympic curling trials in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 0:39
Jones stayed in second position, with a 5-2 record, while McCarville was in third place, with a 4-3 record.
The top three teams in the nine-team standings will progress to the next round.
Kerry Einarson and Scheidegger were 3-3, while Walker, Homan, and Harrison were 2-4 and clinging to a slim playoff chance. Rocque has dropped to 1-5 and will not make the cut.
In the other afternoon men’s games, Brad Jacobs defeated Kevin Koe 8-2 to take sole control of second place. Jacobs moved to 5-1, but Koe slipped into a tie for third place with Mike McEwen, who defeated John Epping 6-2.
In a 7-6 loss against Brendan Bottcher, Jason Gunnlaugson nearly scored three goals to force overtime, but a measure confirmed a deuce.
Gunnlaugson was 2-4, while Epping was 3-3. Bottcher (2-5), Horgan (1-5) and the inactive Matt Dunstone (1-5) are out of the playoff picture.
Tiebreakers (if necessary) and semifinals will take place on Saturday, with the finals taking place on Sunday. The Beijing Games will take place from February 4 to February 20.
