PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S. — All Kevin Koe needed to do was hit the paint.
Koe’s clash with Peter de Cruz during Saturday’s quarterfinals of the Princess Auto Elite 10 went into an extra end, which under match play rules means a draw-to-the-button shootout.
After Benoit Schwarz, who throws fourth stones for de Cruz, threw his right through the house, Koe only needed to finish in the rings. The Calgary native almost rolled too heavy, but the rock put the brakes on in time holding on at the edge of the 12-foot circle to win 1-up and advance.
Koe will now play Brad Jacobs, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., who topped the table in the round robin to move straight through with a bye.
It was a bit of revenge for Koe after de Cruz scored a shootout win over the four-time Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title winner in a draw-to-the-button shootout during the opening draw.
Koe fired a pistol to make a double takeout and win the fourth end. De Cruz made it all square in seven and forced the push to the shootout in eight as Koe was unable to count two.
It was the first time de Cruz, from Geneva, Switzerland, qualified for the playoffs in the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling in his 11th event in the series.
Meanwhile, Reid Carruthers eliminated his former teammate Jeff Stoughton with a 2-and-1 victory in the other quarterfinal match.
Carruthers won the third and fifth ends while Stoughton was blanked on the scoreboard. The four-time Grand Slam champion Stoughton did pull out his classic spin-o-rama when he was forced to a push in the sixth end and showed he’s still got it as the rock landed at the back of the button.
Carruthers also earned a 2-up win over Stoughton on Friday night to qualify. The Winnipeg native Carruthers faces John Morris of Vernon, B.C., in the semifinals.
Stoughton’s Elite 10 Select squad included third David Nedohin, second Nolan Thiessen and lead Jamie Korab. The four legends of the game made a special return to the series for the event.
The previous time Stoughton and Carruthers played at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre was when they won the National together in January 2013.
NOTES: Teams must score two or more with hammer or steal at least one without the hammer to win ends in match play. … The semifinal starts at 5 p.m. AT with the final Sunday at 11 a.m. AT. Watch on Sportsnet.