Mike McEwen leads the way at curling's Tour Challenge

Winnipeg's Mike McEwen is through to the playoffs after defeating Saskatoon's Steve Laycock 9-3 at the Grand Slam of Curling's Tour Challenge in Cranbrook, B.C. on Thursday.

Laycock now holds a 2-1 record.

McEwen advances on his perfect 3-0 record.

Scotland's David Murdoch topped defending men's champ Kevin Koe (1-2) of Calgary 11-5 for his first win of the event.

Toronto's John Epping (1-2) picked up a 7-6 extra-end victory over Mark Nichols (2-1) of St. John's, N.L., skipping Team Gushue.

Brad Gushue is out with a hip injury with Adam Spencer filling in at third and Nichols moving up to skip.

On the women's side, It took an extra end, but Edmonton's Val Sweeting improved to a 2-1 record with a 6-5 win over Winnipeg's Jennifer Jones. 

Sweeting steadily built a 5-3 lead after seven ends, earning a point in four consecutive ends, before Jones, the reigning Olympic champ, got two in the eighth on an open hit.

However, Jones had a miscue in the extra end, clipping her own rock on her final throw. Sweeting didn't need to throw the final rock of the game, taking the one point and earning the win.

Also, Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni (1-2) can still defend her Tour Challenge title after earning her first win of this year's tournament with a 7-4 victory over Winnipeg's Michelle Englot (2-1).