Historic first win for Brazil on Day 3

The third day of the World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles in Stevenston saw four sessions with 16 games played in total and saw Brazil’s first ever win on this level.

Group A teams played six games altogether. In the morning, so-far undefeated Norway met last year’s silver medallists, China. Wang Meng and Jinqiao Yang came out firing, and were leading the game by 7-2 at the break. They won by 11-4 in seven ends, and picked up their third win of the week. In the afternoon, the Chinese duo met United States. The Americans were leading the game, 4-2, at half time and eventually won, 9-6, to pick up their fourth win of the week.

United States’ time-out against China © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

The Americans had picked up a win in the morning against Switzerland, 7-3. The teams were tied at 3-3 at half time, but United States scored a single in every end of the second half on the way to their win.

Norway made up for their morning loss when they beat Finland in the afternoon, 9-3. Finland had collected their first win of the week earlier, when they won against Brazil, 6-5.

Afterwards, Finland’s Ritva Lampinen said, “It was a very fun game, because in Finland we have played against Brazil before and it was exciting to see what they have learned about curling.”

In the afternoon, Brazil had another chance to pick up their first win of the event, and they did just that against Japan. The Japanese were leading the game by 10-1 at half-time, but Brazil came back in the game by scoring a perfect six in the fifth end. In the seventh, Brazil put another big score on the board – five -, to lead the game, 12-11, going into the eighth end. In the last end, Brazil stole a single to win the game, 13-11, and record their first win on World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles ice.

Brazil after their win © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Teams in Group B had four games in total.

Latvia met Czechia in the afternoon, hoping for a third win of the event. The teams were tied at 5-5 after six, then at 6-6 after eight. In the extra end Czechia had last-stone advantage and scored two with it to win the game, 8-6. It was Czechia’s third win of the week and the second one in an extra end.

Czechia’s Radek Musilek celebrates their win against Latvia © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

In the evening, Czechia had a chance to pick up their fourth victory when they faced Denmark. The Czechs kept their great form from the afternoon and yet again won in an extra end, 6-5.

Last year’s bronze medallists, Italy, were looking for their first win of the championship when they played Estonia in the afternoon. Italy had a strong start to the game and were leading by 6-1 at the break. Estonia came back into the game by a score of two in fifth and a three in the seventh, but Italy eventually won, 8-6.

Italy versus Estonia © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Canada won their sole game of the day in the afternoon against Poland, 11-1, to keep their perfect record intact on four wins, no losses.

Six games took place in Group C.

Slovakia played Spain in the morning hoping to collect their third win of the week. The game went all the way to an extra end, when Slovakia stole two to win, 8-6.

After that game, Spain’s Bertrand Tramont said, “We enjoyed playing Slovakia a lot, because they are a great team and we were very near in score. And then we arrived to the extra end and we are happy about our performance.”

His teammate, Anna Nadal Rodriguez spoke about her overall experience in Stevenston, “I enjoy it a lot! It’s our second mixed doubles world championship and this year I think we play a little better than last year and I am happy for it. And I’m happy that we have a chance here to improve our level of curling.”

Spain had another game in the evening, against England. Stewart Pimblett and Karen Aspey were leading that game, 4-3, at half-time and won, 10-3, in seven ends.

Afterwards, Pimblett said, “It’s a really good win, we had to dig real deep. They’ve only been curling for a couple of years, and they’re doing really well. It’s lovely to see a nation like that. I don’t think they’ve got an ice rink, a curling rink in Spain, and I think it’s amazing, what they’re doing.”

Hungary faced Scotland in the afternoon, hoping to get their first win of the event. The Hungarians put an excellent game together and won, 8-4.

Afterwards, Hungary’s Sasadi Aniko said, “I’m very happy because after three losses my soul and my self-confidence needed this win.”

Her teammate, Barkoczi Peter added, “We read the ice better than in the previous games, and we managed to bring our A game.”

Hungary in their game against Scotland © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

In the evening, Scotland made up for their afternoon loss and won against Slovakia, 6-3, partly due to four consecutive single steals.

Hungary met Türkiye in the evening and kept their form from the afternoon to win, 7-4. This was Türkiye’s second loss of the day as earlier they had lost against Korea, 5-9. With that win, Korea kept their perfect record on four wins and no losses.