PEI’s Suzanne Birt rink lost their Tier Two qualifier against Newfoundland and Labrador’s Heather Strong by a 6-4 score this morning at The Rogers Masters Grand Slam in Brantford Ont. Strong then beat Ontario’s Allison Nimik 7-3 to grab one of the two qualifiers from Tier Two for the main event. Tracey Horgan from Sudbury was the other qualifier from Tier Two.

Horgan now faces unbeaten Rachel Homan of Ottawa, while Strong takes on Chelsea Carey of Winnipeg in quarter-final play at 9:30 Atlantic this evening. Two other quarter-finals took place this afternoon, with Eve Muirhead of Scotland beating Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary 7-2, and Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland edging defending event champion Sherry Middaugh of Ontario 6-5.

Calgary’s Crystal Webster rink, which includes PEI natives Erin Carmody and Geri-Lynn Ramsay, finished play with a 2-3 win-loss record.

On the men’s side, Jim Cotter of BC doubled Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen 6-3, and Kevin Martin of Edmonton stole the last two ends in a 5-3 win over Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton in quarter-final play this afternoon. The other two quarters are at 9:30 AT this evening, with Sault Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs facing Steve Laycock of Saskatoon, and Kevin Koe of Calgary taking on Toronto’s Team Balsdon, skipped by Mark Bice.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brad Gushue rink, which includes PEI’s Adam Casey and Brett Gallant, finished play with a 2-3 win-loss record, as did defending champion Glenn Howard.

The men’s and women’s semis go Sunday at 9 am AT, with the final at 2 pm.