25 April 2024

Play-off field complete at World Mixed Doubles

The round-robin stage of the World Mixed Doubles Championship concluded on Thursday and, after yet another day of intense competition, the play-off scenario is now determined, as is the situation in the relegation zone.

Group A

The Group A teams were first to complete their round-robin programme and, on Thursday afternoon, Switzerland had their play-off qualification confirmed as they started their game against Japan. 

There had been a remote possibility that – depending on results – Last Stone Draw figures could see them eliminated, but that disappeared before the game.

In the seventh end, with the game tied at 5-5, Japan’s Ueno Miyu had a chance to score four, but her hit went wrong, and she had to settle for three and an 8-5 lead.

Japan then won by 8-7 to finish in fifth place, while Switzerland are ranked as second. Switzerland will now face Scotland – the third-placed team from Group B – in a qualification play-off.

Estonia played France. In the seventh end, with Estonia leading by 5-3, their female player Marie Kaldvee played a hit to score three and take an 8-3 lead. 

France then conceded, and this result means that Estonia rank third overall in Group A and now go onto a qualification game against Canada from Group B. 

Meanwhile, France finished ninth on the rankings and now face Australia in a relegation game to try to secure their spot in next year’s world championship.

After this game, Estonia’s Marie Kaldvee said, “It wasn’t easy. It took us to some do-or-die games, but we’ve made our first goal.” 

Her partner Harri Lill added, “We haven’t played our best this week, but we can improve. We’ve made it to the play-offs, and we’ve played ok, but there’s definitely more in us. We can beat anyone; we just need to play our best.”

Spain were up against already-qualified Norway. In the eighth end, Norway led by 7-3 when Spain’s Oihane Otaegi got a raise double take-out attempt wrong and gave up a steal of two to Norway, who then won by 9-3. 

This seventh win by Norway sees them top the group rankings to take the direct route to the semi-finals. This loss means that Spain are at the foot of the group and are now relegated to next season’s World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event.

Italy faced Germany in this session. Italy led by 7-6 as the teams played the eighth end. In this end, Italy’s Stefania Constantini played a take-out to score one, enough to give her an 8-6 win.

Although they had the same won six, lost three record as Estonia and Japan, they lost out on a play-off place because Estonia had beaten both teams. Italy finished fourth, while Germany finished sixth in the group.

In the fifth game of the session, Denmark were up against Türkiye. The Danes won by 7-5 and finished in seventh place in the group. Türkiye finished eighth and now play Czechia in a relegation game.

Group B

In Group B’s final session, Sweden – already qualified for the semi-finals – faced a Scotland team that was battling to join them in the play-offs.

Scotland won this game by 8-4 to finish the round robin in third place. Scotland will meet Switzerland in a qualification game on Friday morning.

Canada beat United States by 12-6 to finish second in the group and now face Estonia in the play-offs. This result also means that the Americans finished in fifth place.

Korea beat China in the final session to finish fourth in the group, on the same won five, lost four record as the Americans, but having beaten them earlier.

On ANZAC Day – the sacred Memorial Day in both Australia and New Zealand, commemorating the fallen of war – these two teams, who have both struggled for wins at this event and both wearing red poppies, faced each other. 

Australia won by 7-2, and this means that New Zealand finished at the bottom of the group, having picked up only one win, in the morning, against Korea.

New Zealand are now relegated to next season’s World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event, while Australia finished eighth and now face France in a relegation decider.

The fifth game in the final session saw Czechia play Netherlands and it was the Dutch who won, by 7-1 in just six ends.

This result gave them seventh place on the rankings, while Czechia finished ninth, and now face Türkiye in a relegation decider.

Click here for the final round-robin standings.

Click here for the play-off schedule.

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