Canada's Kerri Einarson and Manitoba's Kaitlyn Lawes won their Page 1-2 qualifying games at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Friday, setting up a provincial showdown for a spot in Sunday's final. Einarson defeated Manitoba's Beth Peterson 8-5, while Lawes edged Nova Scotia's Christina Black 8-6 in a tense 10-end battle. The winner of Saturday's matchup will represent Canada at the world women's curling championship in Calgary.
In Mississauga, Ontario, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts playoffs heated up on January 30, 2026, as two Manitoba-based teams secured their places in the crucial Page 1-2 game.
Kaitlyn Lawes' Manitoba squad overcame Nova Scotia's Team Christina Black in an 8-6 thriller that came down to the final stone. Tied at 6-6 entering the 10th end, Lawes executed a precise takeout on Black's well-protected stone to score two and advance. Earlier, in the ninth end, Lawes' team made a remarkable double takeout to blank the end and retain the hammer. "It feels amazing, it’s been a goal of ours ever since the Olympic trials to try and win a Scotties," Lawes said post-game. "We’re putting ourselves in a position to have that potential opportunity."
Meanwhile, Kerri Einarson's Team Canada rink defeated the third Manitoba team, skipped by Beth Peterson, 8-5. A pivotal moment came in the third end when Einarson's draw for two went heavy, but third Val Sweeting called an audible for a tick on a guard, resulting in two points for a 3-1 lead. "Yeah, I think we got a little fortunate on my little wick and roll in for two," Einarson noted. The game also went to the 10th end, where Peterson's failure to clear the house handed Einarson a single point.
Einarson, a four-time Scotties champion from Gimli, Manitoba, holds an 11-4 all-time edge over Lawes. "I’ve played against Kerri for years and we know that it’s going to be a great battle," Lawes acknowledged. The Page 1-2 game is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing directly to Sunday's final.
The losers from Friday's qualifiers—Peterson and Black—face off in Page 3-4 games Friday night against Alberta's Selena Sturmay and Nova Scotia's Taylour Stevens, respectively. With strong Manitoba representation, including Peterson still in contention, an all-province semifinal or final remains possible. Einarson credited retired legend Jennifer Jones for elevating the province's curling talent: "Jennifer Jones set the tone for us... Took me 20 times to beat her."
The tournament also announced its all-star teams, with Lawes' third Selena Njegovan on the first team and Einarson as second-team skip. Alberta's Kayla Skrlik received the Marj Mitchell Sportsmanship Award.
Both skips emphasized mental preparation ahead of their matchup. "We’re just taking one game at a time," Einarson said, while Lawes planned to debrief and study the ice conditions.
