Cheryl Bernard, Cathy King and Eve Belisle each secured berths in the women's quarter-finals at curling's Players' Championship Thursday during the second day of competition in St. John's.

Bernard advanced to the final eight after squeezing past Sherry Middaugh 6-4, while King defeated Krista McCarville 5-4.

Belisle defeated Amber Holland 6-4 for her third victory in four contests.

Also on Thursday, reigning world champion and defending Players' champion Jennifer Jones staved off elimination with a narrow 7-6 win over Heather Strong. With the victory, Jones moves to 1-2 and will face Kelly Scott Friday morning in her second consecutive elimination match.

Shannon Kleibrink defeated Julie Reddick (Brantford, Ont.) 9-3 for her first victory of the tournament. Kleibrink will play Stephanie Lawton Friday with the winner advancing in the tournament.

In the men's draw, reigning world champion Kevin Martin improved to 2-0 with a 7-2 victory over Greg McAulay.

Also 2-0 are 2007 world champions Glenn Howard, Kevin Koe, and Pat Simmons.

Howard earned his second victory of the event by edging four-time Players' Champion Wayne Middaugh 6-4. Koe ousted Mike McEwen 7-3, while Simmons posted a 7-6 decision in extra ends over Kerry Burtnyk.

Reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue rebounded from his opening round loss to defeat Martin Ferland 6-3.  Gushue plays former Players' champion Jeff Stoughton Friday morning.

All of Canada's top-ranked rinks are taking part in the eighth and final leg of this Grand Slam of Curling event.

The field boasts some of the best curling talent in the country and seeds 16 teams in each of the men's and women's events based on their standing in the Canadian Team Ranking System as of March 17, 2008.