Handshakes between England’s Stewart Pimblett and Scotland’s Hugh Nibloe after their game © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

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World Curling Media

11 March 2025

Two-win opening day for Japan, Norway and Scotland

The World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2025 kicked off on Tuesday (11 March) with four sessions of round-robin play.

Group A teams played six games altogether.

Norway played United States in the morning, and won, 9-7. The Norwegians started with a big score of five in the first, but United States came back and were leading, 6-5, due to three consecutive steals. However, Norway scored three in the sixth on the way to their victory. In the late afternoon, Norway picked up another win, 10-3, against Brazil.

Afterwards, Norway’s Mia Larsen Sveberg said, “It’s really fun to play mixed doubles, but it’s hard to start getting your head back on track after playing team play, because the rules are a little bit different, but it’s really fun. It’s been a great start, by winning our first two matches now.”

Mia is also a musician, and released her debut song last week, when she was playing the play-offs at the team event. Reflecting on that, she said, “I finally released my first song. It’s in Norwegian. This is one of the first songs I wrote when my life went from non-disabled person to wheelchair person. So, it’s really important for me and it’s really fun to finally get it out there. The main message of the song is that no matter what life throws at you, you can win over it, sometimes it’s hard, but you can always find some good parts about life.”

Norway’s Geir Arne Skogstad celebrates their win against United States © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Switzerland started off their campaign against Finland in a rollercoaster game. The Swiss had a significant lead at the break (6-0), but due to a big score of five in the fifth and a single steal in the sixth, Finland tied the game, 6-6. Switzerland eventually won, 9-6.

United States made up for their morning loss when they won against Finland in the late afternoon, 10-2.

In the morning China – last year’s silver medallists – played Japan. The game was tied at 5-5, going into the eighth. Japan managed to steal a single in that end and won, 6-5. Japan continued their winning streak in the afternoon when they won against Switzerland, 8-6.

Team Japan © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Teams in Group B also played six games in total.

Latvia’s world champion duo from 2023 played Denmark in the morning. The game was tied at 2-2 at the break, then at 5-5 after six. Latvia managed to win by 8-5 due to a score of two and a steal of one in the last two ends.

After their win, Polina Rozkova said, “Yesterday we were really happy as we thought that the ice was getting better. But this morning session, unfortunately, it’s maybe not so good. It was slow. But of course, we are happy with the result. I think today it’s not about who will play better, but who won’t play worse.”

Denmark improved their record for the day when they beat Poland in the evening, 11-5.

Earlier, Poland had had an excellent start to their campaign as they beat last year’s bronze medallists, Italy (11-10). The Italians tried to make up for their afternoon loss in the evening when the met Canada. However, the North Americans’ power duo, Mark Ideson and Ina Forrest beat them, 7-5.

Canada versus Italy © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Czechia has a new team at this event. Eva Homolova and Radek Musilek made an excellent debut on World Curling ice as they beat Estonia, 7-3, in the afternoon. Afterwards, Musilek said, “I feel very good. It was the very first time together. So, it’s a brilliant premier!”

Talking about their overall goals for the championships, he added, “We hope for the best that’s possible, and we will do everything what we can with heart.”

Team Czechia © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

The Estonians picked up their first win in the evening, when they beat Latvia, 8-3.

Four games took place in Group C.

Spain met Hungary in the afternoon, and won, 9-7, mostly due to four stolen points in total.

Hosts Scotland had an exceptional first day. In the afternoon, they beat England (11-4), in the evening, they defeated Türkiye, 9-2.

Türkiye versus Scotland © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Title-defenders Korea took on Slovakia in the late afternoon. That game went all the way to an extra end. With a single steal in that end, Korea won, 7-6.

Opening Ceremony

Before the second draw, the official Opening Ceremony took place in the Auchenharvie Leisure Centre. World Curling Board Director Rob Niven and CEO of Scottish Curling, Vincent Bryson gave welcome speeches. The first stone was delivered by Paralympic silver medallist, two-time world champion Michael McCreadie, supported by Paralympic bronze medallist and four-time world championship medallist Aileen Neilson.