Winnipeg's Mike McEwen scored two in the seventh end Thursday to edge Brad Gushue of St. John's N.L., 6-4 in Draw 9 of the Players' Championship curling event.
McEwen grabbed a 4-3 lead with one in the fourth before Gushue responded with a single of his own in the sixth.
McEwen (2-0) is alone in second behind Glenn Howard (3-0) of Coldwater, Ont., in the race for top spot in Pool C. The two rinks play on Friday night.
Gushue, meanwhile, dropped to 1-2.
In Pool B action Thursday, Jim Cotter (2-1) of Vernon, B.C., topped Joe Frans (1-2) of Bradford, Ont., 5-4, and Toronto's John Epping (1-2) beat Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., rink Team Eazy Express (1-1), which is skipped by Brad Jacobs, 6-2.
Meanwhile in Pool A, Winnipeg's Jeff Stoughton (1-1) got past Sweden's Niklas Edin (1-2) 6-4, and Edmonton's Kevin Martin (2-1) beat Saskatoon's Steve Laycock (1-2) by the same scoreline.