Shorthanded Team Edin doubles up on Team Retornaz at GSOC Players’ Championship

TORONTO — Reigning Olympic and world champion Niklas Edin and his Swedish squad will have to make due shorthanded to start the Princess Auto Players’ Championship.

The trio of skip Edin, third Oskar Eriksson and second Rasmus Wranå are playing without lead Christoffer Sundgren, who is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Edin, who just captured his fourth consecutive world championship Sunday in Las Vegas, opened the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling major tournament with a 6-3 victory over Italy’s Team Joël Retornaz on Tuesday afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

Elsewhere in Draw 3, Toronto’s Team John Epping scored four in the fifth and stole three in the sixth to defeat Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., 9-3.

Defending champion Bruce Mouat of Scotland topped Marco Hösli of Switzerland 7-4 and Calgary’s Kevin Koe edged Yannick Schwaller of Switzerland 5-4.

UP NEXT

The Princess Auto Players’ Championship continues with Draw 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

TELEVISED

Broadcast coverage of the Princess Auto Players’ Championship begins Thursday at Noon ET / 9 a.m. PT on Sportsnet, Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).

NO TICK ZONE

Teams cannot tick guards off of the centre line while the five-rock, free guard zone is in effect during all ends. Following an infraction of the rule, the non-offending team may decide to leave the situation as is.

NOTES

The Princess Auto Players’ Championship is the third event of the 2021-22 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season featuring 16 of the top men’s teams and 16 of the top women’s teams from around the world with a combined $350,000 prize purse. Winning teams earn $35,000. … The Pinty’s Cup will also be awarded to the season champions following the conclusion of the Princess Auto Players’ Championship. Winners of the Pinty’s Cup receive $50,000 bonuses.