The dream run continues for Halifax's own Team Christina Black at the Montana's Canadian Curling Trials.
The hometown club eliminated Team Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Man., 6-3 during Thursday's women's semifinals at Scotiabank Centre.
Black will now face Ottawa's Team Rachel Homan in the best-of-three final, beginning Friday, for the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
Homan (6-1) finished first in round-robin play to earn the bye.
Black overcame the odds, having lost to Einarson in all eight of their previous head-to-head matchups. That includes a 12-5 decision during Saturday's opening draw of the event. Black shot 55 per cent in that game, her lowest of the week, and improved to finish round-robin play with an average of 78 per cent.
Her team finished in a three-way tie for third place in the standings at 4-3 with Winnipeg's Team Kaitlyn Lawes and Edmonton's Team Selena Sturmay. With head-to-head all even at 1-1, Black advanced to the semifinal based on the last stone draw totals.
Black came to play Thursday, shooting a game-high 90 per cent against Einarson, who finished at 75 per cent.
Einarson, 6-1 in round-robin play, opened with the hammer but gave up a steal off the bat in the first end as her shooter was heavy and just nudged Black's shot rock as it rolled by.
Neither team could generate much offence after that, with only singles back and forth until the ninth end, where Black held the hammer with the score tied 3-all. Team Einarson struggled with the changing ice conditions, and Black capitalized, breaking the game open with a critical draw for three points that made the difference.
Still, the four-time Canadian champion Einarson held the hammer in the last end, but Black ran her out of rocks as the hometown crowd erupted into cheers.
It'll be another uphill battle for Black against the two-time reigning Canadian and world champion Homan, who has been nearly unbeatable this season, capturing three straight Grand Slam of Curling titles. Homan has won their past six head-to-head matchups, including an 8-2 decision Sunday morning in round-robin play, but to steal a line from Han Solo: "Never tell me the odds."
