Cheryl Bernard, Krista McCarville, Amber Holland and Eve Bélisle booked their spots in the semifinals at the Players' Championship on Friday in the third day of competition in St. John's.

In this evening's quarter-final draw, Bernard defeated Sherry Middaugh 5-3, while McCarville edged Sherry Anderson 8-7. The other quarter-final contests saw Holland upend Michelle Englot 8-6 and Bélisle squeak past Cathy King 8-7.

Skip Jennifer Jones and her rink from Winnipeg were knocked out of the Players' Championship on Friday afternoon, denying them the opportunity to win a third straight title. (Jeff Bassett/Canadian Press)Skip Jennifer Jones and her rink from Winnipeg were knocked out of the Players' Championship on Friday afternoon, denying them the opportunity to win a third straight title. (Jeff Bassett/Canadian Press)

Holland will face King in the semis Saturday morning, while McCarville faces Bernard. The winners advance to the final later in the day (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 3 pm ET).

Earlier on Friday, two-time defending women's champion Jennifer Jones was eliminated from the tournament. Competing in the C-Event, Jones's rink from Winnipeg dropped a must-win game against Middaugh by a score of 7-5, denying the Jones team a chance at a third straight title after their recent victories in the Canadian and world championships.

In men's action on Friday, newly crowned world champion Kevin Martin and 2007 world champion Glenn Howard became the first two skips to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Martin defeated Kevin Koe 5-3, while Howard beat Pat Simmons 7-4 to both improve their overall record to 3-0. 

Following their first losses of the tournament, Koe and Simmons each rebounded with a win to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Koe defeated Shawn Adams 5-3 and Simmons bested Brad Gushue 7-2.

Wayne Middaugh also qualified for the final eight after defeating Mike McEwen 5-2.

The men's quarter-finals begin Saturday evening.

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.