23 March 2026
Switzerland are 2026 BKT World Women’s champions
In an engrossing match-up, Switzerland overcame hosts Canada in Sunday afternoon’s final of the BKT World Women’s Curling Championship 2026 to win by 7-5, taking home the gold medals and the world title.
This was a first world championship appearance by this Swiss team, skipped by Xenia Schwaller and, after losing their opening round-robin game to Japan, they went through the rest of their campaign unbeaten. This team were 2024 World Junior Champions.
Because they had topped the round-robin, Switzerland started the game with last stone advantage, and they used it to blank the first end. The Swiss then opened the scoring with two points in the second end when Canada skip Kerri Einarson couldn’t remove a second Swiss stone with her double take-out attempt, leaving Schwaller with a straightforward draw.
It was Canada’s turn to blank in the third end, and they then scored two in the fourth with a draw around some front stones, to level the game at 2-2.
Switzerland took the lead again with two points in the fifth end for 4-2, thanks to a nose-hit by Schwaller. Then, in the sixth, Canada’s Einarson was forced to draw for just one point, to keep the Swiss in the lead, at 4-3.
However, Canada levelled again in the seventh at 4-4 with a single steal when a Swiss stone rolled out instead of staying in a scoring position after Schwaller’s hit. Then, in the eighth end, Schwaller split the house with her first stone to leave herself with a draw for two with her second, for a 6-4 lead.
In the ninth end, Canada’s Einarson was looking for a score of two but a nudge of her own stone was too strong and once again she had to settle for a single point.
Switzerland went into the tenth end ahead by 6-5 and with last stone. Einarson got a tap-back wrong with her first stone, giving Switzerland one point from the end without them having to play their last, for an 7-5 final score.
Afterwards, Switzerland’s Schwaller said, “I really cannot believe it — I’m speechless. We didn’t feel fully in control but I feel the turning point was when we scored two in the eighth. They are a great team and they can easily score two against any team.”
She added, “I’m really happy and really proud of my team. We didn’t really have any game where we struggled, except maybe the first, which is crazy.”
Canada’s silver medal skip Kerri Einarson also spoke after the game, “Unfortunately, it just wasn’t our day. We battled hard and I’m super proud of my team. But this has been a pretty amazing experience.”
Frances Brodie award
The recipient of the Frances Brodie Award is selected by the curlers participating in the event, to honour the curler who, “by deed and action in the course of their performance, best exemplified the traditional curling values of skill, honesty, fair play, friendship and sportsmanship.”
At the BKT World Women’s Curling Championship 2026, Japan’s third player Yoshida Chinami was presented with the award.
The Swiss gold medal winning team are: Xenia Schwaller (skip), Selina Gafner (third), Fabienne Rieder (second), Selina Rychiger (lead), John Epping (coach), Andreas Schwaller (second coach) and Thomas Lips (national coach).
The Canadian silver medal winning team are: Kerri Einarson (skip), Valerie Sweeting (third), Shannon Birchard (second), Karlee Burgess (lead), Krysten Karwacki (alternate), Reid Carruthers (coach) and Viktor Kjell (national coach).
Find all results from the BKT World Women’s Curling Championship 2026 here.
All times are Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) which is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) -6.
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