ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — In a stunning show of skill and strategy, Canada’s Team Kerri Einarson triumphed over Japan’s Team Satsuki Fujisawa with an impressive 12-3 victory, propelling themselves into the semifinals of the KIOTI National championship.

The pivotal moment came in the second end when Einarson's squad scored five points, setting the tone for the rest of the match. They secured their dominance with a spectacular steal of four in the seventh end, leaving little doubt about the outcome.

Notably, Brittany Tran was brought in as a substitute for Team Einarson’s second, Shannon Birchard, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury. This lineup change has proved advantageous, as Einarson's team continues to build momentum.

Looking ahead, Einarson is set to face the formidable Team Anna Hasselborg in the semifinals.

Team Hasselborg remained undefeated in the tournament following a thrilling 7-6 victory over Halifax's Team Christina Black, which went the extra mile. Black, who earned her spot in the playoffs after winning the HearingLife Tour Challenge Tier 2, initially claimed a decisive 9-5 win over South Korea’s Team Eun-ji Gim in a tense morning tiebreaker.

In the other semifinal matchup, South Korea’s Team Eun-jung Kim will take on Canada’s Team Rachel Homan.

Kim advanced after a narrow 6-3 victory over fellow South Korean Team Seung-youn Ha, while Homan narrowly defeated Japan’s Team Sayaka Yoshimura with a steal in an extra end, securing a 7-6 win.

As the competition intensifies, the stakes are high.

Team Ha had earlier triumphed over Switzerland’s renowned Team Silvana Tirinzoni, marking a strong comeback with a significant 9-2 win in the tiebreakers.

Fans can look forward to an action-packed playoff evening,

with men’s quarterfinals beginning at 4 p.m. NT / 2:30 p.m. ET, featuring high-profile matches including Canada’s Team Mike McEwen against Germany’s Team Marc Muskatewitz and an all-Canadian showdown between Team Brad Gushue and Team Brad Jacobs.

Don't miss the semifinals, scheduled for 8 p.m. NT / 6:30 p.m. ET, where both the men’s and women’s teams will battle for a spot in the finals this Sunday. Will Team Einarson continue their winning streak, or will Hasselborg’s squad steal the spotlight? Tune in to find out!