Leaderboard crowded at Capital One World Women’s

Sweden’s Anette Norberg has ascended to first place at the Capital One World Women’s Curling Championship in Esbjerg, Denmark, but she has a host of pursuers. Monday evening, at the Granly Hockey Arena, the reigning Olympic champion from Härnösand kept Korea (Mi-Sung Shin) winless, outlasting her rival 10-7 to improve to 4-1 through eight draws. However, six nations are tied for second with 3-2 marks, including Denmark and Norway, who fashioned remarkable triumphs. Most amazing was Norway’s Linn Githmark’s 9-8 victory over Russia, skipped by Liudmila Privivkova. Down 8-2 after six ends, Githmark’s team from Oslo counted two in the seventh, proceeded to steal deuces in the eighth and ninth ends, then capped off the comeback with a steal of a single in the 10th. Meanwhile, host Denmark, skipped by Lene Nielsen of Hvidovre, won its third in a row, bumping Switzerland’s Mirjam Ott from first place with a 6-3 victory, stealing a pair in the 10th end for the surprising victory. In the other game, United States, skipped by Patti Lank, whipped the defending world women’s champion, Germany’s Andrea Schöpp, 9-4, stealing singles in the seventh, eighth and ninth ends. It was Schöpp’s third consecutive loss. USA alternate Debbie McCormick, who skipped her country to a 2003 Ford Worlds title in Winnipeg, played lead in the contest, replacing Mackenzie Lank. Canada’s Amber Holland had an evening bye, before facing Czech Republic and United States on Tuesday. Thus, the current standings are as follows. Behind first place Sweden (4-1) are six countries at 3-2: China, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Scotland and Switzerland. Four others are at 2-3: Canada, Czech Republic, Germany and USA. Korea is 0-5. The round robin continues Tuesday through Thursday, with three draws daily. After any required tiebreakers on Friday, the Page Playoffs (1 vs 2, 3 vs 4) take place, followed by a Saturday semi-final, then the bronze and gold medal games on Sunday, March 27. TSN is carrying a select number of Team Canada games live, including Tuesday’s match against United States, beginning at 2:00 pm ET.