The semifinalists are set at the 2025 Henderson Metal Fall Classic and this year’s event will have a new champion.
In quarterfinal play on Saturday night, Matt Dunstone’s Winnipeg-based rink dropped a 7-5 decision to Evan Van Amsterdam of Edmonton, Alta. at the YNCU Curling Centre.
Trailing 5-3 through five ends, Van Amsterdam scored three in the sixth end to take the lead.
After blanking the seventh end, Dunstone gave up a steal of one in the eighth to cap off the scoring.
The Dunstone rink entered this year as the two-time defending champions of the event.
Van Amsterdam will face American Daniel Casper in one semifinal game on Sunday morning after Casper beat Reid Carruthers of Winnipeg 6-2 in seven ends.
John Epping’s Sudbury-based rink advanced to the semifinals thanks to an 8-1 win in four ends on Saturday night. Leading 2-1 through three ends, Epping scored three in the third end before stealing three more in the fourth to cap off the win.
Epping will face Italian Joel Retornaz in Sunday’s other semifinal after Retornaz beat Switzerland’s Marco Hoesli 5-2 in a battle of the finalists from the past two Fall Classic’s
Retornaz, Casper, and Carruthers earned their quarterfinal spots after winning their B Bracket qualifier games on Saturday morning.
Retornaz beat Hoesli 6-1 in four ends while Casper beat Shinya Abe 6-0 in six ends and Carruthers beat Sinnett 6-4.
Hoesli earned a quarterfinal spot thanks to a C Bracket qualifier win in Saturday’s afternoon draw over Michael Fournier. Trailing 5-4, Hoesli scored a pair in the seventh end to take the lead and sealed the win with a steal of one in the eighth end to win 7-5.
In the other C Bracket qualifier games on Saturday afternoon, Sinnett beat Nathan Young 6-5. Sinnett grabbed a steal of two in the sixth end to take a 5-2 lead before Young scored three in the seventh to tie the game.
Van Amsterdam advanced to the quarters after a 9-2 win over Abe in the other C Bracket qualifier, With the game tied at two through four ends, Van Amsterdam seized control by scoring three in the fifth end before a steal of one in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
Semifinal play on Sunday morning begins at 9 a.m. with the tournament final set for 2 p.m.