CurlingZone: Fujisawa, Kitazawa through as A qualifiers in Kitami

In their first event of the 2023-24 season, Team Satsuki Fujisawa (Photo: Anil Mungal/GSOC) along with Ikue Kitazawa have qualified through the A side at the ADVICS Cup.

By: Cameron Sallaj

Satsuki Fujisawa and her two-time defending Japanese championship rink from Kitami kicked off their season Friday morning at the 2023 ADVICS Cup held at the ADVICS Curling Hall.

Fujisawa, with third Chinami Yoshida, second Yumi Suzuki, lead Yurika Yoshida and alternate Kotomi Ishizaki won two straight qualifying games to secure a berth in the semifinal round while Nagano's Ikue Kitazawa rink did the same on the other side of the bracket.

The Olympic silver medalists from 2022 opened the weekend with a 5-4 win over Yuina Miura, taking one in the seventh to secure the victory. In the A event final, Team Fujisawa scored a dominant 7-1 win over Mayu Minami to reach the playoffs.

Kitazawa's Chubu Electric Power rink, with third Seina Nakajima, second Minori Suzuki, lead Hasumi Ishigooka, and alternate Ami Enami won both of their qualifying games 7-3 to advance to the six-team playoff round. The team defeated Yui Oozeki and Miori Nakamura.

In the B event finals, Momoha Tabata took two in the seventh to win 6-4 over Nakamura while Minami rebounded with a 5-4 win over Sayaka Yoshimura to qualify.

Coming into the event with an 11-0 record on the season, Team Yoshimura has lost two qualifying matches to the Minami rink and is now drops into the last chance C event where they will face Honoka Sasaki with a playoff spot on the line.

In the men's event, Yusuke Morozumi, Fukuhiro Ohno, Takumi Maeda, Shinya Abe, and Kohsuke Hirata have all secured playoff spots. The final spot will be decided between Hiroyuki Honda and Hayato Sato.

Watch the replay of the A qualifier match between Ikue Kitazawa and Miori Nakamura:

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