Missing Trophy!

Swedish win keeps Team Hasselborg in hunt for elusive world championship title  

One of the few curling titles that has thus far eluded Anna Hasselborg and her powerful Swedish team is the world women’s championship. The 2018 Olympic gold medallist moved a step closer to another shot at the missing trophy with a 6-2 win over Team Italy Tuesday morning at the 2022 BKT Tires & OK Tires Tire World Women’s Curling Championship, presented by Nature’s Bounty, in Prince George, B.C. 

Hasselborg, supported by vice-skip Sara McManus, second Agnes Knochenhauer, lead Sofia Mabergs, alternate Johanna Heldin and coach Wayne Middaugh, scored two in the eighth end and stole one in the ninth to earn its win over Italy, skipped by Stefania Constantini. 

The win improved Sweden, which has finished second in the past two world championships, to 5-2, behind unbeaten South Korea and Switzerland. 

In the only other morning game, Team Denmark, skipped by Madeleine Dupont and backed by vice-skip Mathilde Halse, second Denise Dupont, lead My Larsen, alternate Jasmin Lander and coach Heather Rogers of Calgary, had its hands full with a determined Dilsat Yildiz and Team Turkey.  

Denmark jumped into a 6-1 lead after four ends but Turkey, making its world curling debut, came roaring back with four in the fifth end and a steal of one in six to tie the game. The teams traded deuces through the next four ends before Denmark scored one in the 11th end for an 11-10 victory. 

Turkey, which has won games in the world mixed championship, has proven to be competitive opponents in Prince George through its first five games. The Turks battled Sweden until losing 9-6 and took Japan to an extra end in a 7-6 loss before losing one-sided decisions to Canada and two-time reigning champion Switzerland.  

Skip EunJung Kim and Team South Korea moved into a tie for top spot with idle two-time world champion Silvana Tirinzoni and Team Switzerland, both at 5-0, with a default win over Scotland, which has withdrawn due to COVID issues. 

Ikue Kitazawa and Team Japan sit at 4-1 followed by Team Canada, skipped by Kerri Einarson, Denmark and the United States all at 3-2. 

Team Canada (3-2), skipped by Kerri Einarson and supported by third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard, lead Briane Meilleur, alternate Krysten Karwacki, team coach Reid Carruthers and national coach Renée Sonnenberg, will be looking to break its W-L-W-L-W pattern with a second straight win when they play Japan in the afternoon draw at 2 p.m. (all times PT).

The top six teams in the 13-team round robin qualify for the playoff round with the top two receiving a bye while the remaining four knock heads in the first round.  

The 2022 BKT Tires & OK Tire World Women’s Curling Championship continues with draws Tuesday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. 

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2022 BKT Tires & OK Tire World Women’s Curling Championship are available by CLICKING HERE.

TSN and RDS2 will provide coverage of the 2022 BKT Tires & OK Tire World Women’s Curling Championship. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

For ticket information for the 2022 BKT Tires & OK Tire World Women’s Curling Championship, go to www.curling.ca/2022worldwomen/tickets/

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/2022worldwomen/nouvelles/?lang=fr