Andrew Irving (Fort Rouge) is two wins away from winning a second consecutive Asham main event championship in the Manitoba Open. Corey Chambers (Portage) is two wins away from skipping the first mixed team to the bonspiel championship. And a dozen teams (if they are eligible) are closing on on a Viterra championship berth.

As play begins this morning, there are 4 teams still alive in the chase for the Manitoba Open Championship AND a total of 20 still playing in the main (Asham) and the next two (Nott Autocorp & Original 16) events which lead to a Viterra Championship berth. Many of the names are well known or at least recognizable.

That does not mean 20 eligible teams for three berths. Some already have berths, at least one is a mixed team, at least one is an out of province team, and a casual observer won’t know who is ineligible OR who is planning a sunny vacation at the time of the Viterra.

So that will all play out over today’s draws but as play begins, here are the survivors.

ASHAM 9AM: Winners play Monday at St Vital for the Championship
Andrew Irving (Ft Rouge) vs Paul Scinocca (St Vital)  AT Heather
Corey Chambers (Portage) vs Dean Dunstone (Granite) AT St. Vital

ORIGINAL 16 9AM: Winners play at 3PM at St Vital
Ryan Hlatkey (St Vital) vs Steen Sigurdson (Deer Lodge) AT Elmwood
Merv Satterthwaite (St Vital) vs Dennis Bohn (AMCC) AT Elmwood
Allan Godfrey (St Vital) vs Evan Martin (East St Paul) AT Fort Rouge
Derrick Anderson (Gimli) vs Timothy Friesen (East St Paul) AT Fort Rouge

NOTT AUTOCORP NOON: Winners play at 6PM at St Vital or Assiniboine Memorial
Dan Birchard (Pembina) vs Justin Reynolds (Wpg Beach) AT Fort Rouge
Jeff Stewart (Gladstone) vs Brett Walter (AMCC) AT St. Vital
Howard Doerksen (Pembina) vs Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) AT Assiniboine Memorial
Darren Perche (Charleswood) vs Soctt Moncur (Canmore AB) AT West St. Paul

At first glance only 12 of those teams MIGHT be eligible to win a Viterra berth – by this stage, eligibility has been confirmed, but it would take a reporter with more energy to track down the exact details.

And besides, my team and 31 others are still playing this morning in the Half ‘Spiel

<> <> <>

SEVEN TEAMS ALREADY HAVE VITERRA BERTHS
Steen Sigurdson (Deer Lodge)
Dan Birchard (Pembina)
Juston Reynolds (Winnipeg Beach)
Jeff Stewart (Gladstone)
Brett Walter (AMCC)
Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge)
Darren Perche (Charleswood)
Corey Chambers (Portage) – already has a berth with Braden Calvert – but the ‘spiel team is a mixed one with Lisa McLeod & Jolene Callum, so would be ineligible anyway.

AND WHO ELSE CAN’T WIN ONE?
Scott Moncur – Canmore, AB

As noted above, there may be other ineligible teams as well – determining that as they advance makers for an interesting day!