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.

SRC - Capital One World Women's Curling Championship 2011 - Gold Medal

Lineups:
Sweden - Karlstads CK
Lead: Lotta Lennartsson
Second: Sara Carlsson
Third: Cecilia Östlund
Skip: Anete Norberg

China - Harbin CC
Lead: Yan Zhou
Second: Qingshuang Yue
Third: Yin Liu
Skip: Bingyu Wang

Gold Medal Game - 27th March 2011 15:00
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Sweden	*	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	3	0		9
China		0	0	0	2	0	1	2	0	0	1		6

China were far more competitive in this rematch of the 1/2 Playoff game, but still could not find a way to beat the Swedes for a second time in this tournament.

Compared to the penultimate match of the competition, the final was downright pedestrian; Sara Carlsson's early efforts making things difficult for China to get to their opponents stone. A pair of blanked ends were followed by a sudden flurry of scoring. China's Yin Liu blocked superbly in the fourth end, while Annette Norberg showed creativity to get a second stone into the house and retake the lead in the fifth.

It then looked as though there was a change in momentum as Bingyu Wang, who has the highest percentage amongst the Skips in the tournament, scored a single in the sixth end, following this up with a steal of two more points in the seventh, and suddenly China was in the ascendency with a lead of 5-3.

But how quickly things can turn. Sara Carlsson was again immaculate in her blocking, allowing her teammates to score three points in the eighth, and it continued with a three stolen points in the ninth end as Sweden dug down and found something special to take that Gold medal.

SRC - Capital One World Women's Curling Championship 2011 - Bronze Medal

Lineups:
CANADA - Kronau CC, Saskatchewan
Lead: Heather Kalenchuk
Second: Tammy Schneider
Third: Kim Schneider
Skip: Amber Holland

DENMARK - Hvidovre CC
Lead: Maria Poulson
Second: Jeanne Ellegaard
Third: Helle Simonsen
Skip: Lene Nielsen

Bronze Medal Game - 27th March 2011 10:00
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Canada	*	2	0	1	0	3	3	0	1	0	2		12
Denmark		0	3	0	3	0	0	3	0	1	0		10

The final day of the 2011 Capital One Women's World Curling Championships began with a real barnburner. The score was added to in every end, including a run of four straight where three points were put up on the board.

The wild contest started out with Amber Holland cementing a 2-0 lead with the final stone of the end, and Tammy Schneider disrupting the Danish efforts in the third end. In the middle of this Jeanne Ellegaard played a pair of remarkable shots to give three points to her rink, and on Denmark's next end with the hammer it was all about Helle Simonsen and her blocking to give them a 6-3 lead.

The score was tied in the next end when Holland finished up some strong play throughout the Canadian lineup. Heather Kalenchuk then started it all over again thanks to some very poor shots from her opposite Lead curler, Maria Paulsen fora 9-6 scoreline. Once again the free-scoring teams were level after seven ends, Ellegaard the focus once more.

A difference in the skill shown between the leads was again a big contribution to Canada retaking the lead, but they needed to get it done one more time in the final end, with the score even at 10-10, and Amber Holland was up to the task of winning Bronze for her country in an incredible match.

SRC - Capital One World Women's Curling Championship 2011 - Semifinal

Lineups:
China - Harbin CC
Lead: Yan Zhou
Second: Qingshuang Yue
Third: Yin Liu
Skip: Bingyu Wang

CANADA - Kronau CC, Saskatchewan
Lead: Heather Kalenchuk
Second: Tammy Schneider
Third: Kim Schneider
Skip: Amber Holland

Semi-finals - 26th March 2011 15:00
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
China		0	2	1	0	2	0	0	1	0	0		6
Canada	*	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	1		5

There was only one scoreless end when Canada decided to blank it in order to keep the hammer for the tenth, but they were unable to get even with China who are guaranteed a medal in their rematch with Sweden. Canada will see Denmark again for the Bronze game.

Kim Schneider again influenced the first end, allowing her rink to score, but China then outscored their opponents 5-2 at the midpoint as first Bingyu Wang put home a second stone in end number two and followed that up with a steal. It then becomes a battle between the thirds: Schneider and Yin Liu; the Chinese curler winning the war with some first-rate blocking in the fifth end.

Canada moved within one, Tammy Schneider and Amber Holland the best shots in the sixth and seventh ends, but what proved to be the winning point was out of the hand of Bingyu Wang; Holland unable to do anything else in the tenth to get back on level terms.

SRC - Capital One World Women's Curling Championship 2011 - 3/4 Playoff

Lineups:
CANADA - Kronau CC, Saskatchewan
Lead: Heather Kalenchuk
Second: Tammy Schneider
Third: Kim Schneider
Skip: Amber Holland

Denmark - Hvidovre CC
Lead: Maria Poulson
Second: Jeanne Ellegaard
Third: Helle Simonsen
Skip: Lene Nielsen

Play-off 3/4 - 26th March 2011 10:00
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Canada	*	1	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	1		5
Denmark		0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0		3

Canada won the earlier meeting between the rinks in the fifth draw of the tournament 6-4, and they came out on top to progress to the semifinal match against China by the same points margin. Denmark will have to settle for a chance to take home the Bronze.

It took a few Kim Schneider shots was enough to put her rink into a 3-1 lead with the Danish skip Lene Nielsen squeezing a stone home in between. Following a stalemate for two ends, Denmark had the match tied up; Helle Simonsen's brave shot knocking two Canadian stones out of blocking positions. But, after another lull in scoring, Canada took the lead for the final time thanks to Amber Holland's leadership.

SRC - Capital One World Women's Curling Championship 2011 - 1/2 Playoff

Lineups:
Sweden - Karlstads CK
Lead: Lotta Lennartsson
Second: Sara Carlsson
Third: Cecilia Östlund
Skip: Anete Norberg
China - Harbin CC
Lead: Yan Zhou
Second: Qingshuang Yue
Third: Yin Liu
Skip: Bingyu Wang

Play-off 1/2 - 25th March 2011 19:00
Sheet C		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ex	F
Sweden	*	3	0	1	0	0	2	1	0	/	/		7
China		0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	/	/		2

Sweden took their excellent form into the matches that really matter and defeated China, the only rink that was able to get a win over the Swedes during this tournament. The hot start was thanks to two excellent shots by Sara Carlsson, and the 4-0 lead was a successful steal from Anette Norberg.

China tried to comeback, and got themselves on the board in the fourth end with Bingyu Wang leading by example, but it was to be in vain as good play from both Norberg in the sixth and Carlsson in the seventh ends put the game away. The last effort from China was thanks to their third: Yin Liu. but without making a bigger dent in the deficit they took the handshake.

Sweden go through to the final in two days time while China will tomorrow against thewinner of the 3/4 match in the morning.