Kevin Martin, Glenn Howard, John Epping and Niklas Edin all advanced to the semifinals of the GP Car and Home World Cup of Curling event Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Martin, who is in search of an eighteenth major title, had no problems getting by world champion Kevin Koe, 8-3, in the all-Edmonton matchup. The Olympic champion broke it open in the fifth end with four points and never looked back.

Howard won a tight game against the red-hot Mike McEwen with a steal of one point in the eighth end to close out a 4-2 victory.

Howard, of Coldwater, Ont., won a close contest against Winnipeg’s McEwen, who tops the World Curling Tour money list. Howard stole one point in the eighth end to close out a 4-2 victory.

In the other quarter-final matches, Toronto’s Epping defeated Brad Gushue, of St. John’s, N.L., 7-4, while Sweden’s Edin knocked off Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton 5-3.

The semifinal draw begins Saturday night (CBC Bold, CBCSports.ca, 8 p.m. Atlantic time).

Edmonton’s Kevin Martin, right, and Niklas Edin of Sweden share a laugh before taking part in separate quarter-final matchups. Both skips advanced to Saturday night’s semifinals. (Anil Mungal/Capital One)