Tracy Fleury has led her team to the playoffs at the GSOC Boost National event in Newfoundland ©GSOC

Local hero Brad Gushue completed a 7-6 comeback victory in an extra end, over defending champions Team Ross Paterson to claim a playoff spot in the Boost National - the second major of the 2019-2020 Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC).

Gushue, who lives near the CBS Arena in Conception Bay South in Newfoundland, where the action is taking place, trailed 4-0 after two ends and 5-2 after four.

But the 39-year-old - who won Olympic gold at Turin 2006 and world titles in 2017 and 2018 for Canada - rallied his team and, to loud applause, secured victory as he connected on the open hit with his last shot of the extra end.

Team Gushue thus remain undefeated at 3-0 and have secured a place in the quarter-finals on Saturday (December 14) with one round-robin game in hand.

Switzerland's Team Peter de Cruz also secured a playoff spot on the men’s side at 3-0, with a 6-4 win over Winnipeg's Team Mike McEwen.

Team Scott McDonald ended their run on a high note, defeating Regina's Team Matt Dunstone 4-3.

McDonald heads home with a 1-3 record, while Dunstone, at 0-3, cannot advance.

In the women's competition, another local outfit, Team Tracy Fleury, also qualified for the quarter-finals as they kept their perfect record.

The Masters champions recorded a 7-4 victory over Edmonton’s Team Kelsey Rocque, who now have a 0-3 record.

Team Chelsea Carey earned a 6-5 win over Swiss world champions Team Silvana Tirinzoni ©GSOC
Team Chelsea Carey earned a 6-5 win over Swiss world champions Team Silvana Tirinzoni ©GSOC

Team Fleury’s final round-robin game tomorrow is set to be against Switzerland's reigning world champions Team Silvana Tirinzoni.

Team Tirinzoni, meanwhile, suffered a 6-5 defeat at the hands of Team Chelsea Carey, the Canadian champions from Calgary, who now have a 1-1 record.

Canada's Sochi 2014 gold medallist Jennifer Jones, nine times a GSOC title winner, led her team to a 9-2 victory over Scotland's Team Eve Muirhead.

Team Kerri Einarson earned a 7-2 victory over Japan’s Team Satsuki Fujisawa and now have a 2-1 record.

The top eight teams overall in both divisions advance to Saturday afternoon's quarter-finals.

The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday evening with both finals set for Sunday (December 15).

The Boost National features 15 of the top men's and women's teams from around the world.

There is a combined purse of $300,000 (£228,000/€270,000) on offer, split equally between both divisions, with the winners receiving $35,000 (£26,500/€31,500) each, plus places at the season-ending Humpty's Champions Cup.

Teams also earn points towards the Pinty's Cup awarded to the season champions, following the conclusion of the Players' Championship in April.