TORONTO — There will be a new men’s champion at the AMJ Players’ Championship.
Italy’s Team Joël Retornaz played the spoiler, defeating reigning champ Team Brad Gushue of Canada 7-6 in an extra end Friday during their last round-robin game.
It was a rematch, but not a repeat, of last year’s final and the loss eliminated Gushue from playoff contention.
Retornaz had already missed the cut with four straight losses and ended on a positive note, while Gushue’s week was the exact opposite, starting with a win over Team Matt Dunstone and finishing with four straight losses.
Gushue, who has lost 11 of his last 12 games in the Grand Slam of Curling series, held the hammer coming home with a one-point lead but gave up a steal to tie the game and force OT.
The 15-time Grand Slam title winner came up short on his draw shot in the extra to concede the decisive point.
AMJ Players’ Championship on SportsnetThe world’s best curling teams clash in the fifth and final Grand Slam of Curling event of the season at the AMJ Players’ Championship in Toronto. Watch live coverage Thursday to Sunday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
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Gushue will keep a close eye on the remainder of the tournament. Playoff-bound Team John Epping could surpass Gushue on the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points list for the third and final Brier pre-qualifier berth handed out following the conclusion of the season finale event. Epping needs to win the AMJ Players’ Championship title to secure enough points.
Next season’s Brier is scheduled for Feb. 27–March 8, 2026, in Gushue’s hometown of St. John’s, N.L.
Meanwhile, the AMJ Players’ Championship playoff picture continues to take shape on moving day.
Switzerland’s Team Yannick Schwaller (4-1) secured a spot on the men’s side with a 5-3 victory over Scotland’s Team Ross Whyte (2-3).
In women’s play, South Korea’s Team Seung-youn Ha (3-2) stole singles in the seventh and eighth ends to edge Team Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland 8-7 and clinch a spot on the women’s side. Tirinzoni (3-1) has one more round-robin game in the evening against undefeated Team Anna Hasselborg (4-0) of Sweden.
Canada’s Team Kerri Einarson fell 7-5 to Sweden’s Team Isabella Wranå. Both teams wrapped up pool play with 2-3 records and are in wait-and-see mode if they’ll be sticking around for a potential tiebreaker.
Up next
Two more round-robin draws remain with Draw 14 starting at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Notes
The AMJ Players’ Championship features the top 12 men’s teams and top 12 women’s teams from around the world. … Six teams qualify for the playoffs in both divisions, with the top two receiving byes to the semifinals. … If necessary, one tiebreaker draw is slated for Saturday morning. … The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Saturday. Both finals are on tap Sunday.
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