23 April 2024
After four days of round-robin play, each of the two groups now has a clear leader at the top of the rankings. Switzerland top Group A undefeated on six wins. In Group B, Sweden enjoy exactly the same position.
Group A
The Group A teams had only one game on Tuesday. Group leaders Switzerland were up against a Spain team still looking for their first win.
By the sixth end, the Swiss had built a lead of 7-1 and, when Spain’s Oihane Otaegi’s tap-up failed, Switzerland stole another single point for an 8-1 lead. The Spaniards then conceded.
This 8-1 win preserves Switzerland’s undefeated record while Spain are now in real relegation danger. Switzerland have started well in each of their games so far and about that Yannick Schwaller said, “I feel we’re ready to play in the first end, but we also get a lot of misses from our opponents in the first end, and that helps us get a big score and opens the game for us.”
Italy faced Denmark in this session. In the seventh end, with the Italians leading by 5-4, their female player Stefania Constantini played a hit for one and a 6-4 lead. Due to a steal of three in the eighth, Italy then won by 9-4 to sit in second place on the rankings.
Norway faced Estonia. In the sixth end, with Norway leading by 8-2, Estonia’s Marie Kaldvee played a draw to score two and reduce Norway’s lead to 8-4.
Norway then went on to win by 9-4, a fourth victory so far that puts them into joint third place on the rankings. Afterwards, Norway’s Magnus Nedregotten said, “We’re taking it a game at a time but we’re heading in the right direction. We’re facing some very tough teams now.”
In the fifth game of the session, Japan were up against Germany. In the seventh end the game was tied at 4-4 when Japan’s Ueno Miyu played a hit to score three and take a 7-4 lead.
Japan then went on to win by 7-5 and this puts them in joint third place, along with Norway.
France and Türkiye played each other and Türkiye emerged as 7-4 winners to pick up their second win.
Group B
Wins by Canada and Sweden in their morning games – Canada beat Scotland by 12-5 while Sweden were 6-2 winners over Netherlands – set up an evening top-of-the-table clash between the group’s two undefeated teams.
In their evening game, Sweden took an early advantage and were leading by 4-1 at half time, and then they held a 6-4 lead going into the eighth end. Even though Canada stole a single in that end, Sweden eventually won, 6-5. This win leaves Sweden alone at the top of the table, unbeaten with six wins.
Korea faced United States and, in the seventh end, with Korea leading by 5-3 United States’ Becca Hamilton made a double take-out, to score two for 5-5.
Despite that, Korea went on to win by 7-5, a result that puts them into joint fourth place on the rankings, right behind the Americans.
Australia, having lost earlier to China by 5-6, faced Czechia in the evening. By the eighth end, Czechia held a slim 6-5 advantage, but Australia’s Tahli Gill played a delicate tap-back to score two and win by 7-6, their second victory so far.
Afterwards, Gill said, “A lot of our games have been really close – just one shot here and there, so we’re just staying strong, and keep our cool in tough situations.”
China now join the three-way tie for fourth place, along with Scotland, who beat Netherlands by 7-5.
Australia, Czechia and Netherland are now all tied on two wins each in the relegation zone, while New Zealand still have yet to win a game.
Click here for the standings after day four.
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