SRC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Gold Medal Game

NORWAY - Snarøen CC, Oslo
Lead: Håvard Vad Petersson
Second: Christoffer Svae
Third: Torger Nergård
Skip: Thomas Ulsrud

SCOTLAND - Curl Aberdeen
Lead: Michael Goodfellow
Second: Scott Andrews
Third: Greg Drummond
Skip: Tom Brewster Jr

Gold Medal Game - 10th April 2011 17:00
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Scotland	*	2	0	0	1	2	0	2	0	2	/		9
Norway		0	1	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	/		4

The only match Scotland lost on route to the final was against Norway in a big comeback, but now the Scots have won both meetings in the playoff stage and gone home with Gold around their necks.

Greg Drummond looked on sparkling form early on, drawing and blocking as the situation required with good accuracy, and helped guide Scotland to a 4-1 lead after four ends. Good play from the Norwegians lead through to the skip combined with an off second end from Scotland to get Norway on the board before Brewster Jr blanked the third; Drummond then getting it done again.

Scotland were able extend their lead again in the fifth thanks to Brewster Jr, and any hopes of Norway getting a revenge comeback of their own after they were on the receiving end of one in their 1/2 playoff match with Scotland were soon dashed.

Torger Nergård had done well to negotiate around some tricky lies and cut the score down to 5-3, but when revenge did come it was from the Scottish lead, Michael Goodfellow, making up for his earlier mistakes by getting his rink off to a great start in the seventh end and another two points. 7-3.

Svae inspired his team to pull one back, but without the hammer Norway just did not have an answer for Scotland's play; dropping another two points to end the match in the ninth.

SRC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Bronze Medal Game

CANADA - Charleswood CC, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lead: Steve Gould
Second: Reid Carruthers
Third: Jonathan Mead
Skip: Jeff Stoughton

SWEDEN - Karlstads CK
Lead: Viktor Kjall
Second: Fredrik Lindberg
Third: Sebastian Kraupp
Skip: Niklas Edin

Bronze Medal Game - 10th April 2011 12:00
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Canada		0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	/		4
Sweden	*	2	0	2	1	1	2	1	0	1	/		10

Sweden finally get one over on the Canadians in their third and most important meeting of the competition in a devastating display. 

Sebastian Kraupp got things rolling; blocking nicely for his skip to draw around and score two. Then after it was tied up in the second end thanks to good draw play from the Canadian skip, the Swedes once again moved ahead through good team strategy and Niklas Edin's draw play.

Edin continued to look unstoppable as Sweden stole a point in back-to-back ends before the halftime break. Canada were unable to talk up a good plan to stop the bleeding and Fredrik Lindberg then greatly outmatched Canada's second that ended up with Sweden stealing another three points in two ends.

Johnathan Mead did find a way through in the eighth, cutting the deficit down to five, but Canada could not find a way to steal anything of their own as Sweden rounded things off with yet another Niklas Edin draw shot to increase the lead, accept the handshake, and receive their Bronze medals.

SRC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Semifinal

NORWAY - Snarøen CC, Oslo
Lead: Håvard Vad Petersson
Second: Christoffer Svae
Third: Torger Nergård
Skip: Thomas Ulsrud

CANADA - Charleswood CC, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lead: Steve Gould
Second: Reid Carruthers
Third: Jonathan Mead
Skip: Jeff Stoughton

Semi-finals - 9th April 2011 13:00
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Norway	*	1	0	0	2	1	0	0	2	3	0		9
Canada		0	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2		6

As in the women's world championship there would be rematches of the playoff games in the medal matches here as well. Norway opened the scoring of a match that was even through two-thirds of the contest; Christoffer Svae making the difference in the first end. Canada then wasted little time in making the most of the hammer thanks in large part to Jeff Stoughton's experience.

A blanked end was followed up by the Norwegians retaking the lead, and it was Svae again who got the ball rolling. The second of Norway then had an easier time in the fifth end when the lead, Håvard Vad Petersson, was able to get an advantage with his two shots.

Two ends after the short midpoint break it was tied 4-4. Stoughton continuing to lead his troops in both instances despite his counterpart Ulsrud ending the game with a better percentage. But then a big momentum shift. Torger Nergård played a remarkable draw shot, leaving his skip to finish off a two-point end, before Thomas Ulsrud impressed all by himself to manufacture a five point lead.

Despite the Canadians needing something of a minor miracle to get back on level terms, Stoughter played on through the tenth cutting the deficit by just two. The Norwegians can now look for revenge against Scotland, and Canada will look to win three out of three against the Swedes in the medal games.

SRC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - 3/4 Playoff

CANADA - Charleswood CC, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lead: Steve Gould
Second: Reid Carruthers
Third: Jonathan Mead
Skip: Jeff Stoughton

SWEDEN - Karlstads CK
Lead: Viktor Kjall
Second: Fredrik Lindberg
Third: Sebastian Kraupp
Skip: Niklas Edin

Play-off 3/4 - 9th April 2011 12:30
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Canada	*	0	1	2	0	3	1	0	3	/	/		10
Sweden		0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	/	/		3

Less than 72 hours prior to this game the Canadians took an 8-6 victory over Sweden and that was what divided the teams in third and fourth after the round-robin stage. Unlike the 1/2 playoff with it's great play from the thirds and fourths, this match saw a lot of good shots coming early in the ends as well.

After blanking the first end, Canada started to show that were going to be bringing some excellent form into this game. Jeff Stroughton was able to draw a single point in the second end to open the scoring, and Johnathan Mead picked off a loose Swedish shot to help them increase to a 3-0 lead.

Viktor Kjall then started out the fourth end in style, cleaning up an error from his opposite number, to pull it back to 3-2, but Steve Gould more than made up for his previous mistakes and, starting with the Canadian leads fine play, kept Sweden right on the back foot.

With the score 6-2 at the halfway point Sweden were hoping to gain inspiration from the Scottish and stage a second half comeback. The plan started badly when Reid Curruthers played a blinder, giving his rink every opportunity to steal at least one. Sweden then brought it back to a four-point deficit; Niklas Edin with a force shot to prevent Canada increasing the lead again.

Yet, that is exactly what happened in what would be the final end. It was Mead again winning by a margin in the battle between the thirds and putting the game beyond any doubt. Sweden will have to wait and see who they will compete with for the Bronze medal, and Canada move on to face Norway today. The Norwegians won 8-7 in the extra end of their final round-robin game.

SRC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - 1/2 Playoff

NORWAY - Snarøen CC, Oslo
Lead: Håvard Vad Petersson
Second: Christoffer Svae
Third: Torger Nergård
Skip: Thomas Ulsrud

SCOTLAND - Curl Aberdeen
Lead: Michael Goodfellow
Second: Scott Andrews
Third: Greg Drummond
Skip: Tom Brewster Jr

Play-off 1/2 -8th April 2011 19:30
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Norway	*	5	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0		8
Scotland		0	0	3	0	0	1	0	2	2	1		9

As with the women's tournament I moved from Tee Live Curling over to Shot Rock for the final games.

Norway had a dream start as a combination of inspired shots, Torger Nergård with the best of the bunch, and pedestrian play from the Scots had the Scandinavians out to a 5-0 lead after only one end. The match would then progress into a battle of wits between each rinks third and fourth. Norway's third again made a key shot to increase his sides lead to 6-0 before Tom Brewster Jr pulled his team together and halved the deficit.

Norway blanked the fourth end and took a single point before the halftime break, Nergård again the architect. The refreshments and team-talk was just what Scotland needed, and they set about taking the game to their opponents. An exchange of singles had Norway in front 8-4 with three ends to play. Up steps Michael Goodfellow, the lead of this Scottish team, to get things going on the right track, culminating in an 8-6 scoreline.

The final two ends was all about Brewster and his impressive draw shot into the middle of the house to tie the game on the steal, and then knock out a wayward Norwegian shot to claim a fantastic victory and move on into the Gold medal game.

TLC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Draw #17

Draw #17 - 7th April 2011 19:30
Sheet A		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Korea	*	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	2		5
Switzerland		0	2	1	2	0	0	1	0	1	0		7
Sheet B		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Denmark		0	1	0	3	1	1	0	0	1	0		7
Czech Republic	*	1	0	4	0	0	0	1	2	0	0		8
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
USA	*	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0		6
France		0	1	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	2		7
Sheet D		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Norway		0	1	0	2	0	2	0	0	2	0	1	8
Canada	*	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	7

Norway end on top of the standings thanks to their earlier defeat over Scotland, but they were pushed hard in a thriller against third place Canada that had only one blanked end. The Canadians finish above Sweden for the same reason as the 10-1 wins.

Fifth place France lead the also-rans with victory over the Amercians, coming back to win in the tenth, and the Korean men match their female  counterparts and end the tournament without a win, dropping their final game to the Swiss. The other match saw the Czech Republic score four in the third end and just hold off the challenge of Denmark.

Final Standings

Pos	Team	Record
1	Norway	10-1
2	Scotland	10-1
3	Canada	8-3
4	Sweden	8-3
5	France	7-4
6	Germany	5-6
7	Switzerland	5-6
8	Czech Republic	4-7
9	Denmark	4-7
10	USA	4-7
11	China	2-9
12	Korea	0-11

TLC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Draw #16

Draw #16 - 7th April 13:30
Sheet A		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Czech Republic		0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0		3
Germany	*	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2		6
Sheet B		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Sweden	*	0	0	0	2	0	1	1	1	1	0		6
Switzerland		0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1		3
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
China		0	0	2	0	1	0	1	0	/	/		4
Norway	*	4	0	0	3	0	1	0	2	/	/		10
Sheet D		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Scotland		1	1	0	2	1	0	0	0	2	/		7
USA	*	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	/		1

The four playoff teams are confirmed but the final order will be determined after the last draw. For now the penultimate draw of the round-robin stage brings no surprises with Scotland easily beating out the USA, and Norway doing likewise to the guaranteed eleventh-placed rink China.

Elsewhere, the inconsistent Germany finish off their tournament with a win over the Czech Republic, and Sweden lock out France for the fourth playoff place thanks to their win over the Swiss that included a run of four ends with a point to the Swedes.

Standings

Pos	Team	Record
1	Scotland	10-1
2	Norway	9-1
3	Canada	8-2
4	Sweden	8-3
5	France	6-4
6	Germany	5-6
7	Denmark	4-6
8	Switzerland	4-6
9	USA	4-6
10	Czech Republic	3-7
11	China	2-9
12	Korea	0-10

TLC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Draw #15

Draw # 15 - 7th April 2011 08:30
Sheet A		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Scotland	*	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	3		9
France		0	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0		5
Sheet B		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Canada	*	1	1	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	2		8
China		0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	1	0		4
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Korea	*	0	1	0	0	3	0	1	0	0	1		6
Sweden		0	0	1	1	0	1	0	2	2	0		7
Sheet D		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Germany	*	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0		3
Denmark		0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	1		4

Scotland were staring at a second successive defeat trailing France 5-3 after eight ends, but two great ends to finish off the match turned it all around. Canada has now won three games in a row after their defeat to the Scots. Here they started strongly with four points on the board before China could score themselves.

Sweden are alone in fourth place thanks to the French defeat and the Swedes own result against Korea. The rink without a win all tournament scored three in an end for the second time in the competition, but they were beaten by two points in both the eighth and ninth ends. The other match saw Germany throw away a 3-2 lead in the ninth, and the result in the tenth when they had the hammer versus Denmark.

Standings

Pos	Team	Record
1	Scotland	9-1
2	Norway	8-1
3	Canada	8-2
4	Sweden	7-3
5	France	6-4
6	Switzerland	4-5
7	USA	4-5
8	Denmark	4-6
9	Germany	4-6
10	Czech Republic	3-6
11	China	2-8
12	Korea	0-10

TLC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Draw #13

Draw #13 - 6th April 2011 13:30
Sheet A		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Canada		0	1	0	2	0	1	1	0	3	0		8
Sweden	*	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	2		6
Sheet B		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Germany		0	2	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0		5
France	*	2	0	2	0	3	0	0	1	1	0		9
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Denmark		0	0	0	0	2	0	/	/	/	/		2
Scotland	*	0	2	2	1	0	4	/	/	/	/		9
Sheet D		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Korea		0	1	0	0	0	0	/	/	/	/		1
China	*	1	0	3	1	1	2	/	/	/	/		8

France step up into the top four with a convincing performance against the inconsistent German rink. The French scored seven of their points in the opening half of their game and limited their opponents to just a single a point throughout the remainder. Sweden lose that fourth place after they failed to keep up with their opponents and were defeated by Canada.

China takes a second win in the tournament against the Koreans, and the Scots remain unbeaten with a thrashing of their own handed down to Denmark.

Standings

Pos	Team	Record
1	Scotland	8-0
2	Norway	7-1
3	Canada	7-2
4	France	6-3
5	Sweden	5-3
6	Switzerland	4-4
7	Czech Republic	3-5
8	Germany	3-5
9	USA	3-5
10	Denmark	3-6
11	China	2-6
12	Korea	0-9

TLC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Draw #12

Draw #12 -6th April 2011 08:30
Sheet A		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Denmark		0	1	0	0	0	0	/	/	/	/		1
Norway	*	3	0	0	1	2	2	/	/	/	/		8
Sheet B		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
USA	*	0	2	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	0		6
Korea		0	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0		4
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Czech Republic	*	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	/	/		4
Canada		1	0	0	3	1	0	4	0	/	/		9
Sheet D		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Switzerland		1	0	0	1	0	2	1	0	0	2		7
France	*	0	0	5	0	2	0	0	1	0	0		8

The Danes are hammered by Norway who keep up their chase on Scotland, and Canada is right behind them after a four point seventh end saw them beat the Czech Republic. France wins to keep the pressure on Sweden in fourth, and the American rink wins a closer game then their 5-1 lead in the fifth would have had them believe.

Standings

Pos	Team	Record
1	Scotland	7-0
2	Norway	7-1
3	Canada	6-2
4	Sweden	5-2
5	France	5-3
6	Switzerland	4-4
7	Germany	3-4
8	Czech Republic	3-5
9	Denmark	3-5
10	USA	3-5
11	China	1-6
12	Korea	0-8

TLC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Draw #11

Draw #11 - 5th April 2011 19:30
Sheet A		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Germany	*	1	0	2	0	1	1	0	0	2	1		8
Korea		0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0		3
Sheet B		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Sweden	*	0	0	1	0	2	0	1	1	3	/		8
Denmark		2	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	/		3
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
France	*	1	0	3	0	3	0	2	/	/	/		9
China		0	1	0	1	0	1	0	/	/	/		3
Sheet D		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Canada	*	0	0	3	0	0	3	0	1	0	1	0	8
Scotland		1	0	0	2	3	0	1	0	1	0	2	10

Scotland passed their biggest test to date by giving Canada their second defeat of the competition. A flurry of scoring from the third through the sixth end were part of a eight end back and forth rally with the Scots claiming victory on the extra end.

Sweden were able to capitalise on the Canadian defeat by beating out Denmark with four stolen points before the handshake was offered. France are right behind as they also have an easy win, this time over China, and the Germans make things more miserable for Korea.


Standings

Pos	Team	Record
1	Scotland	7-0
2	Norway	6-1
3	Canada	5-2
4	Sweden	5-2
5	France	4-3
6	Switzerland	4-3
7	Czech Republic	3-4
8	Denmark	3-4
9	Germany	3-4
10	USA	2-5
11	China	1-6
12	Korea	0-7

TLC - Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2011 - Draw #10

Draw #10 - 5th April 2011 13:00
Sheet A		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Switzerland	*	1	0	1	0	0	2	1	0	0	1		6
Czech Republic		0	2	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0		5
Sheet B		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
France		0	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0		4
Canada	*	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	3		8
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Norway	*	3	1	1	1	2	0	/	/	/	/		8
USA		0	0	0	0	0	0	/	/	/	/		0
Sheet D		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Denmark		0	0	1	0	1	0	2	1	0	0		8
Korea	*	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1		4

Norway's comeback from defeat continued into a remarkable win over the Americans as they scored eight points across the first five ends of the match. Canada looks to put their lone defeat behind them, also scoring eight points, but were pushed hard by France for over half the match.

Switzerland needed a tenth end point despite leading with the hammer in the ninth against the Czech Republic, and Denmark became the latest team to beat the winless Koreans.

Standings

Pos	Team	Record
1	Scotland	6-0
2	Norway	6-1
3	Canada	5-1
4	Sweden	4-2
5	Switzerland	4-3
6	Denmark	3-3
7	France	3-3
8	Czech Republic	3-4
9	Germany	2-4
10	USA	2-5
11	China	1-5
12	Korea	0-6