Bassmaster Classic 2020: Weigh-in Results and Friday Leaderboard
Mar 6, 2020
Randy Howell, Springville, Ala., points to family and supporters as he holds up two bass at the weigh-in, Sunday Feb. 23, 2014 in Birmingham, Ala. that helped him to win the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)
The first day of the 2020 Bassmaster Classic was a big one for Hank Cherry Jr., who hauled in five fish for a total weight of 29 pounds, three ounces to take a commanding lead over the field.
John Crews Jr. and Clent Davis are tied for second place after matching 21-pound, eight-ounce days.
Here is how the leaderboard looks after Day 1:
1. Hank Cherry Jr. (29 pounds-3 ounces)
T-2. John Crews Jr. (21-8)
T-2. Clent Davis (21-8)
4. Brandon Lester (20-15)
T-5. Todd Auten (20-0)
T-5. Micah Frazier (20-0)
7. Skylar Hamilton (19-11)
8. Matt Herren (18-12)
9. David Mullins (18-8)
10. Hunter Shyrock (18-6)
Cherry, who nearly won the 2013 Classic during his Rookie of the Year season, averaged nearly six pounds per bass in a consistent overall day. His top fish came out at seven pounds and two ounces.
Todd Auten had the largest bass of the day, bringing in a seven-pound, nine-ouncer during the early morning hours.
The 2020 Bassmaster Classic looks destined to crown a first-time winner due in part to the split between the Bass Pro Tour and Elite Series. Defending champion Ott DeFoe did not qualify for the 2020 Classic because he chose to fish on the Pro Tour rather than the Elite Series. He released a statement (h/t Wired2Fish) in January confirming he would not be participating.
Anglers looking up on the field will have to act fast. Only the top 25 competitors compete in the third and final day of the event.
If Day 1 is any indication, it appears they're all out for second place.
LA Marathon 2020: Route, Course Map, Times, Road Closures and Event Details
Mar 6, 2020
Los Angeles Marathon Elite Women runners race past the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles Sunday, March 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
From Dodger Stadium to Hollywood to the Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles will be on full display this weekend.
On Sunday, the 35th annual Los Angeles Marathon takes place as more than 27,000 participants from all 50 states and more than 78 countries will run through the streets of the city in a 26.219-mile race. The event started in 1986 and stemmed from the success of the 1984 Olympics, which took place in L.A.
Over the years, the marathon route has been adapted into a "Stadium to the Sea" format, as the race begins at Dodger Stadium, takes runners past many major landmarks of the city and ends near the Santa Monica Pier.
Here's everything you need to know about this year's Los Angeles Marathon.
There will be a mix of experienced marathon runners, novices and first-timers in the field, as to be expected with an event of this size. All will be hoping to cross the finish line at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and California Avenue.
Last year, Elisha Barno of Kenya won the men's race with a time of two hours, 11 minutes and 46 seconds. The men's course record was set in 2011 when Markos Geneti of Ethiopia finished in 2:06:35.
The women's course record was set in last year's race. Askale Marachi of Ethiopia completed the race in 2:24:11, breaking the previous mark of 2:25:10 that was set by Russia's Lidiya Grigoryeva in 2006.
Participants in the race must be at least 16 years old. There will also be commemorative awards handed out to the top three finishers in each age division. Every participant who finishes the race will receive a commemorative medal.
While many people who attend the Los Angeles Marathon are there to run the race, there will also be plenty of supporters and fans watching the event and cheering on those who are participating.
That will culminate at the finish line, as the Finish Festival will take place at the Third Street Promenade, which is located between Santa Monica and Wilshire. The festival will feature a beer garden, music and entertainment as runners and supporters celebrate the conclusion of the marathon.
If you need any more information about the race before Sunday, everything can be found at LAmarathon.com.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020: Thursday Curling Results, Updated Draw and Schedule
Mar 5, 2020
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 8: Northern Ontario skip Brad Jacobs delivers his shot in their gold medal game against Team Canada in curling during the Tim Horton's Brier at the Scotiabank Saddledome on March 8, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Todd Korol/Getty Images)
Things are getting serious at the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier.
The Canadian men's national curling championship at Leon Centre in Kingston, Ontario, opened Championship Pool play Thursday. Hometown fans still have both Ontario and Northern Ontario in contention. Ontario started by defeating Manitoba 9-5 in eight ends, while Northern Ontario outlasted Wild Card 6-4 in 10 ends. Both teams also won in the night's Draw 17 to improve to 6-3.
The latter marked Team Brad Jacobs' fourth straight victory after beginning the tournament 1-3, which was surprising because it entered the 16-team field as the top-ranked squad in the world.
It has been Team Brendan Bottcher from Alberta that has consistently played like the best team. It was the only undefeated team through Draw 16, but it finally met its match in Draw 17. Team Brendan Bottcher faced Team Kevin Koe in a rematch from last year's Brier final.
Below is a closer look back at Thursday's curling action and a look ahead at Friday's schedule, the last of Championship Pool play before the four-team playoff.
Thursday's Results
Draw 16
Ontario (6-3) def. Manitoba (5-4) 9-5
Alberta (8-1) def. Saskatchewan (6-3) 9-5
Northern Ontario (6-3) def. Wild Card (7-2) 6-4
Newfoundland and Labrador (7-2) def. Canada (6-3) 7-4
Draw 17
Canada (6-3) def. Alberta (8-1) 5-4
Wild Card (7-2) def. Manitoba (5-4) 5-4
Ontario (6-3) def. Newfoundland and Labrador (7-2) 8-4
It looked like it was going to be an uphill battle for Kevin Koe to become the first skip to win five Briers, as his Team Canada lost to Team Brad Gushue of Newfoundland and Labrador during the afternoon's Draw 16. Gushue, a 17-time Brier competitor, has achieved success in his own right with titles in 2017 and '18.
Each of Newfoundland and Labrador's four members shot over 90 percent for a collective 93 percent total opposite Canada's 87 percent.
"We were brutal," Koe said after the loss, per Curling Canada. "Got off to a good start but couldn't put enough ends together, so a little disappointing for sure. We've got to find another gear. If we play like that we won't be around long, but hopefully it's a one-off and we can play better tonight."
Canada ran into powerhouse Alberta, whom Koe led to last year's Brier championship, in Draw 17. Koe and Co. turned things around from their earlier outing in a big way:
The skipper makes a nice double on his first to setup a force in the sixth end. It’s 3-2 with us regaining 🔨 in the seventh end. #Brier2020pic.twitter.com/38tyn3uKPV
Team Kevin Koe and Team Brendan Bottcher needed an extra end to determine a winner after the latter tied things at four with one point in the 10th end. Canada earned the upset with one point in the 11th end to hand Alberta its first loss.
Bottcher also came up short against a Koe-skipped team in last year's Brier final when Alberta defeated Wild Card 4-3. The two skips have changed teams since then, but the result stayed the same.
Newfoundland and Labrador, meanwhile, followed a Draw 16 victory with a Draw 17 loss to Ontario. Team John Epping scored a triple in the ninth end to secure an 8-4 victory for hometown Ontario.
At the same time, Northern Ontario cruised to a 7-4 win over Saskatchewan to notch a two-win Thursday.
Hometown fans will finally have to make a choice Friday as Ontario and Northern Ontario will clash in Draw 19. Elsewhere on the slate, Bottcher will look to get Alberta back on track against his former Team Wild Card.
Bassmaster Classic 2020 Schedule: Dates, TV Coverage, Live Stream and Event Info
Mar 5, 2020
Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., holds up a bass for spectators following him on the second day of the Bassmaster Classic, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, in Guntersville, Ala. Tharp was bumped from first to second by 1 ounce by Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla. The field will be cut to the top 25 anglers for the final day of competition. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)
The latest edition of the Bassmaster Classic gets underway on Friday, with 53 of the finest anglers around competing for their share of the $1 million prize pot.
This year's competition will be staged at Lake Guntersville at BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, over the course of three action-packed days.
Ott DeFoe was the winner in 2019, with his three-day total registering 49 pounds and three ounces. However, he will not be back to be defend his crown this year, nor will other big names like two-time winner Jordan Lee and four-time champion Kevin VanDam.
With a number of big names missing due to their commitment to different tours, the field is wide open in Birmingham this year.
As a result, anglers with local knowledge of Lake Guntersville may have an advantage over the rest of the field. One of those is Scott Canterbury, who resides around 60 miles from the setting for this weekend's showdown, per Travis Smola of Wide Open Spaces.
In his rookie season on the tour in 2019, he was named the Bassmaster Angler of the Year, with six top-10 finishes registered. Victory here would cement his position as one of the best anglers in the world at the moment.
Seth Feider is one of the most prestigious competitors in the field, with three B.A.S.S. titles to his name already. In 2019 he was a winner three times too.
Brandon Lester is another who will be vying for success and speaking to Bassmaster (h/t Smola), Lester outlined what he thinks will be important to secure victory this year in regards to conditions.
"You have the pre-spawn leading into the spawn, and there could even be a few fish spawning during that tournament," he said. "I've seen it happen on Guntersville that early before. It all depends on what kind of weather we have."
Meteorologist James Spann showed the expected conditions at the lake on Wednesday:
Some are out this morning getting ready for the Bassmaster Classic at Lake Guntersville that starts Friday... photo from Donna Prickett pic.twitter.com/3b7BUuQyuj
According to Weather.com, there's a mainly sunny forecast for the weekend, with temperatures potentially reaching a high of 62 degrees on Sunday.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020: Wednesday Curling Results, Updated Draw and Schedule
Mar 4, 2020
Kevin Koe of Canada throws his rock during men's bronze medal curling finals against Switzerland at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Gangneung, South Korea on Friday, February 23, 2018. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
The round-robin portion of the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier wrapped with a flare Wednesday night at the Leon's Centre in Kingston, Ontario, with several teams vying for a spot in the Championship Pool.
Canada's national men's curling championship began with 16 teams in the field. The Championship Pool will feature Pool A and Pool B's respective top four teams.
Pool B was settled before the evening's Draw 14 with Northern Ontario defeating winless Nunavut 10-3 in the afternoon's Draw 13. Northern Ontario finished 4-3 after starting the tournament 1-3. Team Brad Jacobs entered this event as as the top-ranked team in the world but will need their hometown fans' support to overcome 7-0 Alberta, 6-1 Newfoundland and Labrador and 5-2 Manitoba.
Reigning champion Alberta arrives to the Championship Pool as the only undefeated team, led by skip Brendan Bottcher, but Jacobs isn't intimidated.
"We welcome every bit of adversity and hardship," Northern Ontario's skip told reporters after their Draw 13 victory, per TSN. "It's the Canadian championships. It's not supposed to be easy."
Pool A reflected Jacobs' sentiment Wednesday night, coming down to the wire. Ontario and New Brunswick were tied for the fourth and final spot with 3-3 records entering Draw 14. But Team Wild Card ended New Brunswick's hopes with a 9-4 victory in nine ends, while Ontario pulled off a four-point 10th end to come back and top Northwest Territories:
Newfoundland and Labrador is one of three teams sitting at 6-1 behind undefeated Alberta. Saskatchewan might be the biggest surprise among that trio given the team's history at the Brier:
Matt Dunstone and Saskatchewan score FOUR in the sixth end to take a 12-2 lead over Yukon. Looks like they'll have a 6-1 record going to the championships pool.
"The reason we put this team together is to win a Brier for Saskatchewan," the team's third, Braeden Moskowy, told TSN's Ryan Horne. "We want to be those guys that end this 40-year drought. It's way too long for all the great players that have played for Saskatchewan and out of Saskatchewan."
Saskatchewan only took the ice once Wednesday, but they made it count during the night draw against a lesser opponent in Yukon to maintain momentum entering Championship Pool play. All eyes during Draw 14 were focused on Northwest Territories and Ontario, though.
Team Jamie Koe looked on their way to potentially eliminating Ontario with a 5-1 lead through three ends. However, Ontario skip John Epping wouldn't let that happen. He pulled his team to within 5-4 with a triple in the fourth end before the squad completed its comeback effort with a four-point 10th to advance.
Elsewhere in Draw 14, Canada needed only eight ends to finish off British Columbia. Canada's skip, Kevin Koe, is looking to become the first skip to ever win five Briers. He will need to find a way to do what nobody has been able to do yet: beat Alberta, the team he led to the title last year.
Team Kevin Koe will face off against Alberta's Team Brendan Bottcher in Thursday evening's Draw 17. It will be the first time to two heavyweights have matched up in this tournament.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020: Tuesday Curling Results, Updated Draw and Schedule
Mar 4, 2020
Kevin Koe, right, of Canada reacts during men's bronze medal curling finals against Switzerland at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Gangneung, South Korea on Friday, February 23, 2018. Switzerland defeated Canada to win the bronze medal. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Tuesday at the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier is in the books, and there's only one undefeated team remaining in pool play.
Team Alberta, led by skipper Brendan Bottcher, is now 6-0 and in command of Pool B. The Wild Card team from West St. Paul has pulled into a tie for control of Pool A with Saskatchewan with both sitting at 5-1 through six games.
Round-robin play wraps up Wednesday with three draws, but Tuesday's action may have helped decide who advances to the Championship Pool.
Tuesday's Results
Draw 9
New Brunswick (3-2) def. British Columbia (1-4), 6-3
Northwest Territories (1-4) def. Yukon (0-5), 9-7
Manitoba (3-2) def. Prince Edward Island (2-3), 9-8
Newfoundland and Labrador (4-1) def. Nunavut (0-5), 7-2
Draw 10
Alberta (6-0) def. Nova Scotia (3-3), 6-2
Northern Ontario (3-3) def. Quebec (1-5), 9-2
Canada (4-2) def. Wild Card (5-1), 3-2
Saskatchewan (5-1) def. Ontario (3-3), 6-4
Draw 11
Wild Card (5-1) def. Ontario (3-3), 11-7
Saskatchewan (5-1) def. Canada (4-2), 5-4
Alberta (6-0) def. Quebec (1-5), 7-3
Northern Ontario (3-3) def. Nova Scotia (3-3), 6-2
Wednesday's Schedule
Draw 12 (9:00 a.m. ET)
Nunavut vs. Manitoba
Prince Edward Island vs. Newfoundland and Labrador
Yukon vs. British Columbia
New Brunswick vs. Northwest Territories
Draw 13 (2:00 p.m. ET)
Quebec vs. Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia vs. Manitoba
Northern Ontario vs. Nunavut
Alberta vs. Prince Edward Island
Draw 14 (7:00 p.m. ET)
Yukon vs. Saskatchewan
New Brunswick vs. Wild Card
Northwest Territories vs. Ontario
British Columbia vs. Canada
Tuesday Highlights
Kevin Koe struck again Tuesday, much to the dismay of Wild Card skipper Mike McEwen. The skip would have remained undefeated throughout pool play had Koe not managed to pull off a triple on his final shot for the win.
Koe could have easily gone for the single to pull Team Canada into a 2-2 tie with the Wild Card team after the 10th end, but the skip took a high-risk, high-reward approach that paid off.
The win was a massive one for Team Canada in the Brier Classic standings as well. A loss there would place them in a fourth-place tie with Team Ontario at 3-3, putting Koe's crew in danger of missing the top-four Pool A cut and sitting out the Championship Pool round.
However, Team Canada now has some breathing room thanks to Koe's gutsy decision and excellent execution. He spoke about the shot afterward:
It was undoubtedly a disappointing result for McEwen, but this Wild Card five-ender in an 11-7 victory over Team Ontario was anything but:
A day filled with sensational shots received a contribution from Manitoba's Jason Gunnlaugson, who somehow pulled off this sorcery to give his team a 9-8 win over Prince Edward Island:
It was a great bounce-back victory for Manitoba after suffering an emotional defeat to undefeated Alberta 7-6 in 11 ends in its previous contest, one where Gunnlaugson's crew overcame a 6-2 deficit after six just to force the extra frame.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020: Sunday Curling Results, Updated Draw and Schedule
Mar 1, 2020
Canada's Kevin Koe throws the stone during the curling men's bronze medal game during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung on February 23, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / WANG Zhao (Photo credit should read WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)
The 2020 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship tournament, shuffled onward Sunday with its second day of action at Leon's Centre in Kingston, Ontario.
Team Ontario, the world's second-ranked squad, put forth a strong showing for their home fans by defeating British Columbia 11-3 and Yukon 10-6 to improve to 3-0 overall in the tournament.
The Wild Card squad also preserved an undefeated record to remain atop the Pool A leaderboard with Ontario. Pool B was led by reigning champion Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador, each 2-0 through Sunday's first two draws, until Alberto handed Newfoundland and Labrador their first loss on Sunday evening.
Alberta is 3-0 at #Brier2020 after beating Newfoundland and Labrador. Here's their skipper after a low scoring nail-biter. pic.twitter.com/SKwmMndcGk
Read on below to catch up on all of Sunday's results and take a closer look at the day's action as well as look forward to Monday's schedule.
Sunday's Results
Draw 3
Wild Card def. Yukon, 10-6
Saskatchewan def. New Brunswick, 10-6
Northern Ontario def. Prince Edward Island, 6-2
Alberta def. Nunavut, 9-4
Draw 4
Manitoba def. Quebec, 10-8
Newfoundland and Labrador def. Nova Scotia, 5-2
Canada def. Northwest Territories, 7-3
Ontario def. British Columbia, 11-3
Draw 5
Canada def. New Brunswick, 8-4
Ontario def. Yukon, 10-6
Alberta def. Newfoundland and Labrador, 3-2
Manitoba def. Northern Ontario, 6-5
Monday's Schedule
Draw 6 (9 a.m. ET)
Nova Scotia vs. Prince Edward Island
Quebec vs. Nunavut
British Columbia vs. Saskatchewan
Northwest Territories vs. Wild Card
Draw 7 (2 p.m. ET)
Saskatchewan vs. Northwest Territories
Wild Card vs. British Columbia
Nunavut vs. Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island vs. Quebec
Draw 8 (7 p.m. ET)
Newfoundland and Labrador vs. Northern Ontario
Manitoba vs. Alberta
Ontario vs. New Brunswick
Canada vs. Yukon
Sunday Recap
Canada is seeking its third Brier championship in four years, including back-to-back titles in 2017 and '18, but lead Ben Hebert will remember Sunday for individual reasons:
It’s nice to surround yourself with talent! I don’t think my corner guards were going to lock up 100 Wins.. 😳Thanks to all the big boys for carrying me along! 🙌🏻👊🏻 https://t.co/KKdjptUMHA
Kevin Koe, who led Alberta to Brier glory last year, is now serving as Canada's skip. The 45-year-old is trying to become the first skip to win the Brier five times (h/t CBC). He and Canada had gotten off to a rough start on Saturday by dropping their opener 5-3 to Team John Epping from Ontario but rebounded Sunday against the winless Northwest Territories.
Epping, meanwhile, kept dominating en route to routing British Columbia 11-3:
"This is definitely up there in the top experiences," Epping told Curling Canada afterward, referencing his team's unbeaten record before home fans in Ontario. "... It's great to have a chance to play in a home Brier. You never know how many you're gonna get to, and it might be my last chance. You don't know."
Ontario upheld Epping's comments by tallying three points in the ninth end to top winless Yukon 10-6.
The morning's Draw 3 was highlighted by Saskatchewan and 24-year-old skip Matt Dunstone upset veteran skip James Grattan and his New Brunswick teammates. Saskatchewan outscored New Brunswick 5-0 in the ninth and 10th ends to complete the comeback victory.
While Manitoba will ride high into Monday tied for second in Pool B at 2-1, Northern Ontario is off to a surprising 1-2 start—good for sixth place—after entering the field as the world's top-ranked team.
Anything can happen at the Brier.
Tokyo Marathon Results 2020: Men's and Women's Top Finishers
Mar 1, 2020
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 01: Birhanu Legese of Ethiopia #1 celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men’s competition during the Tokyo Marathon on March 01, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. The organizer had restricted the entry to elite runners only as the marathon acts as the final domestic qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games men's marathon due to the COVID-19 new coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
Birhanu Legese and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter were the top finishers in a lightning-fast 2020 Tokyo Marathon on Sunday.
Both the men's and women's races were run at an intense pace, and no less than 17 runners ducked under the 2:08:00 mark, per sportswriter Jonathan Gault:
I know everyone is focused on the Trials, but holy shit the Tokyo Marathon results are insane.
17 (!!!) guys under 2:08. Most ever in one race. I mean, could you imagine running 2:07 and finishing SEVENTEENTH?
Bashir Abdi ran the second-fastest European time in history, but it wasn't enough to beat Legese to the top spot despite some injury trouble for the Ethiopian.
Salpeter finished nearly a minute before the second-placed runner in the women's race, Ethiopia's Birhane Dibaba.
Here are the podiums for both races:
Men's Elite
1. Birhanu Legese, Ethiopia, 2:04:15
2. Bashir Abdi, Belgium
3. Sisay Lemma, Ethiopia
Women's Elite
1. Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Israel, 2:17:45
2. Birhane Dibaba, Ethiopia
3. Sutume Asefa Kebede, Ethiopia
The field was reduced to just 300 elite runners and saw a limited amount of volunteers over fears of the coronavirus, leading to remarkably empty streets, per CNN's Will Ripley:
I decided to check out the Tokyo marathon. It’s usually so festive and colorful — with costumed runners & enthusiastic crowds lining the route. This year, the streets are nearly empty. Just 300 elite runners instead of the usual 35K. Only 600 volunteers instead of the usual 10K. pic.twitter.com/vLz75vLi0c
Legese ran his personal best of 2:02:48 during the Berlin Marathon last year and came into the Tokyo Marathon as the defending champion.
He and Lemma were the clear favourites for the title and kept things close until the final three kilometers, when the defending champion kicked on. He later told reporters he did so despite growing pains in his hip:
Lemma fell back to third place after a phenomenal late surge from Abdi, who was down in 15th place after 10 kilometers but found tremendous pace in the final quarter of the marathon.
In the women's race, Salpeter made her move after 30 kilometers and finished solo in a new national record. Dibaba was the only runner who could keep pace after the initial move and also finished faster than the previous course record but was still 50 seconds down on the winner.
Both wheelchair races also saw new course records and local winners. Japan's Tomoki Suzuki took the men's race in a blistering 1:21:52, over eight minutes faster than anyone else. Tsubasa Kina was even more dominant, finishing over 13 minutes before anyone else in the women's race.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020: Saturday Curling Results, Updated Draw and Schedule
Feb 29, 2020
Canada's Brett Gallant, center, delivers a stone in a qualification game against the United States during the World Men's Curling Championship, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The first full day of the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier kicked off on Saturday at Leon's Centre in Kingston, Ontario, with 16 teams vying for the Canada men's national curling championship.
Team John Epping, ranked No. 2 in the world, took the opening match with ease for Ontario but will have some work to do to catch British Columbia's Steve Laycock and Co. The world's top team, Team Jacobs, will start pool play Saturday evening representing Northern Ontario in an opening match against Alberta.
Here's where each team stands after the first draw:
Often asked favourite moment of the Brier..this is it..all teams on the ice..bagpipes playing..Tankard on display..we're ready..Canada Koe..vs Ontario Epping 2pm e.. pic.twitter.com/PPIJzS6x20
Team Epping third Ryan Fry notched his 100th career victory at the Brier in the Pool A opener as Ontario knocked off a defending champion Team Canada, led by skipper Kevin Koe.
Two stolen ends helped Ontario eke out a narrow 5-3 victory and hand Team Canada a crucial loss. It's the second victory for Epping over Koe this season as the former notched another win in the Home Hardware Canada Cup final in December.
Despite that, Epping said he couldn't relax until the match score went final.
"You never know with Kevin Koe," Epping told Curling Canada. "He's a magician. You never feel safe until the rock stops.”
That fear isn't misplaced. Koe is looking to win his fifth Brier as skipper, which would set the all-time record.
Saturday's first draw also featured a victory for skipper Brad Gushue and Team Newfoundland and Labrador, which is looking to win back the title after it captured the Brier in 2017 and 2018 before it missed the podium in 2019.
Tim Hortons Brier 2020: Dates, Draw Schedule, Format for Curling Event
Feb 28, 2020
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 8: Team Canada skip Pat Simmons (L-R) third John Morris, second Carter Rycroft, lead Nolan Thiessen, alternate Tom Sallows and coach Earl Morris hoist the Tankard trophy after they defeated Northern Ontario in the gold medal game in curling during the Tim Horton's Brier at the Scotiabank Saddledome on March 8, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Todd Korol/Getty Images)
Qualification for the Canada team at the World Men's Curling Championship will take place at the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier tournament.
The domestic event starts on Saturday in Kingston, Ontario, and the overall winners will feature for the Canadians in Scotland from March 28. A wild-card match will be completed on Friday for the final team slot at the Brier.
Kevin Koe is chasing his fifth national victory, with 16 teams divided into two pools. A round-robin format will see the top four from each pool go forward to the championship pool. This will then decide the final-four teams who will advance to the deciding play-offs on March 8.
Pool A (teams listed according to seeding, and listed in order of skipper, third, second, lead, alternate, coach/high performance consultant; hometown)
1. Northern Ontario, Brad Jacobs (Marc Kennedy, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden, Lee Toner, Rick Lang; Sault Ste. Marie) 4. Alberta, Brendan Bottcher (Darren Moulding, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin, Patrick Janssen, Don Bartlett; Edmonton) 5. Newfoundland/Labrador, Brad Gushue (Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker, Jeff Thomas, Jules Owchar; St. John's) 8. Manitoba, Jason Gunnlaugson (Adam Casey [throws second], Alex Forrest [throws third], Connor Njegovan, Garry van den Berghe; Morris) 9. Nova Scotia, Jamie Murphy (Paul Flemming, Scott Saccary, Phil Crowell, Kevin Ouellette, Bruce Lohnes; Halifax) 12. Quebec, Alek Bedard (Louis Quevillon, Emile Asselin, Bradley Lequin, Daniel Bedard; Lacolle/Boucherville/Glenmore) 13. Prince Edward Island, Bryan Cochrane (Ian MacAulay, Morgan Currie, Mark O'Rourke, Ken Sullivan; Cornwall) 16. Nunavut, Jake Higgs (Dale Kohlenberg, Christian Smitheram, Ed MacDonald, Sheldon Wettig, Quentin Vanderschaaf; Iqaluit)
Pool B
2. Ontario, John Epping (Ryan Fry, Matthew Camm, Brent Laing, John Morris, Jim Wilson; Toronto) 3. Team Wild Card 6. Team Canada, Kevin Koe (B.J. Neufeld, Colton Flasch, Ben Hebert, Ted Appelman, John Dunn; Calgary) 7. Saskatchewan, Matt Dunstone (Braeden Moskowy, Catlin Schneider, Dustin Kidby, Adam Kingsbury; Regina) 10. British Columbia, Steve Laycock [throws third] (Jim Cotter [throws last], Andrew Nerpin, Rick Sawatsky, Brad Wood; Vernon/Kelowna) 11. New Brunswick, James Grattan (Paul Dobson, Andy McCann, Jamie Brannen, Chris Jeffrey; Oromocto) 14. Yukon, Thomas Scoffin (Trygg Jensen, Brett Winfield, Joe Wallingham, Wade Scoffin; Whitehorse) 15. Northwest Territories, Jamie Koe (David Aho, Shadrach Mcleod, Cole Parsons, Matthew Ng; Yellowknife)
The draw schedule is available here, per Curling Canada.
Koe would move clear of Randy Ferbey, Ernie Richardson and Kevin Martin with the most wins at the competition if he can skipper his team to glory.
The 45-year old first won the Brier in 2010, and he's continued to collect gold medals at regular intervals throughout the last decade.
A two-time world champion, Koe will believe he can make it a hat-trick of global gold victories if his team win another national crown.
Alberta's Brendan Bottcher could deny Koe if he helps his team to victory after claiming silver in the past two years.
Brad Gushue will make his 17th appearance at the event, and his strong pedigree saw him collect the title in 2017 and 2018.
The 39-year-old will join an elite band of three-time winners if he leads the Newfoundland/Labrador team to the top of the podium.
