Winnipeg’s Lawes tops Switzerland’s Tirinzoni in early play at Kioti National

By The Canadian Press on November 27, 2024.

Team Manitoba-Lawes skip Kaitlyn Lawes encourages her teammates as they play Team Alberta in qualifications at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary, Alta., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes made a game-winning draw to the button for a 5-4 victory over Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni on Wednesday at the Kioti National.

This is the first competition for the Canadian skip since she returned from maternity leave.

In other early games, Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg defeated South Korea’s Eun-Ji Gim 6-2 and Japan’s Momoha Tabata beat Xenia Schwaller 6-4.

Satsuki Fujisawa topped Sayaka Yoshimura 6-3 in an all-Japanese matchup.

Three more draws were scheduled for later in the day at the Mary Brown’s Centre.

Competition at the Grand Slam of Curling event continues through Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024.