China and Scotland join Canada at top of standings

In their only game on Sunday, Canada beat Korea by 9-3 in the fourth session at the BKT World Men’s Curling Championship 2025 to record their third win so far and retain their position at the top of the round-robin rankings.

Later, both China and Scotland had wins in the evening session to join Canada at the top of the rankings. Scotland were 9-6 winners over Japan on Sunday morning and then beat Korea by 9-3, while China beat United States in the morning session by 8-2 and then Italy by 9-4 in the evening. These two teams now join Canada at the top of the table, all on three wins and no losses.

Against Korea, Canada had built a 7-3 lead by the eighth end. Canada’s skip Brad Jacobs then played a hit on a Korea stone to score two more points. Korea then conceded, with a final score of 9-3.

After this win, Canada skip Brad Jacobs said, “This feels great — there isn’t a shot that we’re scared to throw, right up and down the line-up. What we’re trying to do is just focus on ourselves.”

Spectators watch session four games © World Curling / Stephen Fisher

Two win Sunday for the Scots

Meanwhile Scotland had two wins on Sunday. They followed up their morning 9-6 win over Japan with an evening 9-3 win over Korea.

In the eighth end of their game against Japan, the Scots led by 8-5, as Japan’s fourth player Yanagisawa Riku missed out on a hit attempt, to give Scotland a steal of one point and an improved lead of 9-5. The Scots then went on to win by 9-6.

Later, in the ninth end against Korea, Scotland skip Bruce Mouat played a nose-hit to score three points and win the game by 9-3. After these two wins that put the Scots in joint top spot, Mouat said, “We put a lot of pressure on them, just to get their ones.”

Team Scotland’s Hammy McMillan and Grant Hardie © World Curling / Jeffrey Au

China continue winning streak

China faced United States on Sunday morning, and, by the eighth end, they held a 4-2 lead. Their skip Xu Xiaoming then drew his final stone of the end to score four more points and take an 8-2 lead. The Americans then conceded. China returned to the ice to face Italy on Sunday evening, and, by the ninth end of this game, China led by 6-4. Their skip Xu Xiaoming then played a hit to score three points and move his team’s lead onto 9-4. Italy then conceded.

Following their win against United States, Xu said, “The stones are perfect, and the ice is always perfect here.

“This is a very good start, but there’s a long way to go. We need to focus on every single game now.”

Team China’s Xu Xiaoming © World Curling / Jeffrey Au

All still to play for

Behind the three joint leaders, five teams share the same won two, lost one record — Czechia, Norway, Switzerland, defending champions Sweden, and United States.

Of these, Norway had two wins on Sunday: 7-3 over Czechia and 8-3 over Germany. Sweden also won twice: 10-5 over Japan and 8-4 over Austria.

After his win against Japan, Sweden skip Niklas Edin said, “The ice is super good, and we felt we had it under control in this game.

“Our strength is drawing. We can definitely hit, but drawing is our forte, and that’s where we have the edge.”

After their 4-9 loss to China, Italy now have just one win, while Austria, Germany and Japan all share the same won none, lost three standing. Korea sit at the foot of the table, with no wins and four losses.