Jacobs Defeats Dunstone, Approaches Canadian Curling Final Bye
Calgary’s Brad Jacobs has taken the lead in the race for a bye to the men’s final at the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials. With a record of 5-1, Jacobs solidified his top position in the standings by defeating Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone 6-2. The decisive moment came when Jacobs secured a steal of two points in the 10th end.
Current Standings and Competitors
Dunstone, with a record of 4-2, is now tied for second place alongside Saskatoon’s Mike McEwen and Brad Gushue from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. McEwen achieved a victory over Gushue, winning 9-7 in the morning draw.
Key Upcoming Matches
As the tournament progresses, Jacobs is set to play against Gushue, a key matchup given their Olympic backgrounds—Jacobs being the 2014 champion and Gushue the 2006 gold medallist. The outcome of this match will be significant in determining the final standings.
Tournament Format and Stakes
- The tournament features a bye to the best-of-three final for the winners of both men’s and women’s competitions.
- Teams ranked second and third will compete in a knockout semifinal.
- Overall winners will represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
Other Results
In other notable early results, Toronto’s John Epping triumphed over Calgary’s Kevin Koe with an 8-4 score. Winnipeg’s Jordon McDonald narrowly defeated Saskatoon’s Ryan Kleiter, winning 7-6. At this point, Koe holds a 3-3 record, while Epping stands at 2-4. Both McDonald and Kleiter are at 1-5.
Upcoming Women’s Draw
The final women’s draw was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, featuring top skips Kerri Einarson from Gimli, Manitoba, and Rachel Homan from Ottawa. This matchup is crucial for determining the top seed.
