Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling: Simmons, Gushue open with wins at the Masters

Calgary's Pat Simmons and St. John's, N.L.'s Brad Gushue both won their opening round-robin matches at the Grand Slam of Curling Masters tournament on Tuesday.

Round-robin action underway in Truro, N.S.

Newfoundland and Labrador skip Brad Gushue, seen at a previous event, defeated Toronto's John Epping 4-2 on Tuesday in round-robin action at the Masters in Truro, N.S. (Jeff McIntosh)

Calgary's Pat Simmons and St. John's, N.L.'s Brad Gushue both won their opening round-robin matches at the Grand Slam of Curling Masters tournament on Tuesday in Truro, N.S.

Simmons, the reigning Brier champion, scored two in the eighth end to dispatch Shawn Adams of Halifax 7-3.

Gushue, meanwhile, used singles in the second, third, fifth and sixth ends to double up Toronto's John Epping 4-2.

On the women's side, Switerland's Silvana Tirinzoni scored four in the third end and held on for a 7-6 win over Sweden's Margaretha Sigfridsson.

Winnipeg's Kerri Einarson edged Eve Muirhead of Scotland 7-6 and Halifax's Mary-Anne Arsenault defeated Anna Sidorova of Russia 5-3.

Round-robin action continues through Friday.

Our coverage starts Saturday with the men's quarter-finals at noon ET, followed by the men's final on Sunday at noon ET. You can also watch live on CBC Television.

With files from CBC Sports