World Silver Medallists home

Long journey from Grand Forks, North Dakota, but the Scottish team was in good form as they got back into Edinburgh today. World silver medals prominently displayed, David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith, Euan Byers and fifth Peter Loudon were nevertheless disappointed that it was not gold round their necks. Mark of true champions that second best is not good enough! I'm impressed.

Still, first in Europe, Scottish Champions, and now second in the world, is quite a season's accomplishment. Very well done to the team. Scottish curling is proud of you!

L-R: Peter Loudon, David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers. Photo by Bob.

World Men's Curling Championship final: Canada wins Gold, Silver for Scotland

A beautiful day in Grand Forks, the sun is shining and the wind has disappeared, spring has arrived. And so has the final of the World Men's Curling Championship, Scotland against Canada.

Scotland had last stone and blanked the first, Canada stole one in the second when David Murdoch's double got only one. The Scots tied the game with one in the third.

The beginning of the end came in the fifth when Canada got two shots, then stole in the seventh. Scotland lay one behind cover, Kevin Martin played a great hit and roll on a side stone, he lay shot right behind the Scottish stone. David Murdoch had only one shot, an outwick, he rubbed the shot but didn't move it far enough, Scotland trailed by three.

They got two in the eight but gave up two in the ninth when Martin made a double take out and the measure went in Canada's favour.

You can guess what happened in end 10, Canada ran Scotland out of stones, Canada won gold, Scotland got silver, Norway bronze.

It's been a great championship in a fabulous arena, and the train track is farther away, the horns are quite faint.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, had an event blog here.

Above: Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert with the World Championship trophy.

Kevin Martin

David Murdoch

Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 16: Norway wins bronze

It's time for the bronze medal game and China is set up against Norway. This is the first time a men's team from China has made it to the World Championship, they were the only team to beat Canada in the round robin and they had beaten Norway in the round robin.

But this game was different, not a great game for the spectators, Norway got two in the first and China blanked the next three but got the two back in the fifth. End six was the crucial end, Thomas Ulsrud for Norway was left with a shot for three when Chinese skip Fengchun Wang's last stone wrecked.

In end six Norway stole two when Wang's last stone came up short, Norway led by five, the game was over but China battled on. In the ninth Ulsrud had a come around tap back for one and a five shot lead, China conceded, Norway won the bronze medal 8/3.

China may have lost the game but watch out for them in the run up to the Olympics.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

World Men's Curling Championship 15: Canada beats Norway in semifinal to set up rematch with Scotland for title

It's semifinal day at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota and it's set up for Canada against Norway.

Canada romped into a three shot lead after just three ends with two scores in ends one and three. The game was over, Canada were the stronger team out there on the ice, making no mistakes. Norway blanked the next three but had to take a single in the seventh and again in the ninth, Canada, with last stone advantage went into the final end two shots up.

Norway lay two when Kevin Martin for Canada came to play his last stone, he hit one, Norway got the single but Canada won the game 5/4.

Tonight Norway play China for the bronze medal, tomorrow it's Scotland v Canada in the gold medal game.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top: Kevin Martin
Above: Thomas Ulsrud and Kevin Martin
Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 14: Scotland beats Canada to reach final

The Page 1-2 game wasn't for the faint hearted, Scotland against Canada, the winner to the final, the loser to play Norway for the second final place.

Canada had last stone for the first end, that was blanked they got three in the second, Scotland got two in the third then gave up another three in the fourth to trail by four shots. Was this going to be a short game?

Scotland blanked the fifth and got two in the sixth, it was looking a bit better, then it got a lot better. In seven Canadian skip Kevin Martin wrecked, Scotland stole a single. Canada blanked the eighth. End nine Martin tried a tap back, it just moved the Scottish counter a few inches, Scotland stole and the game was tied going into the final end.

David Murdoch and his team kept their heads, they lay two shots after David's last stone, it was wide open. Martin elected to draw to the first shot, he was little bit wide his stone gently tapped the Scottish stone on the shoulder, Scotland stole one for the game 7/6.

David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers are into Sunday's final, they are guaranteed at least a silver medal.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top: David Murdoch and Kevin Martin
Above: Team Canada
Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 13: The page 3-4 game

It's Friday and we woke up to snow this morning, but by now it is thawing fast and China meet Norway in the 3 v 4 playoff.

China, in the World Men's Championship for the first time, have been the surprise package, they were the only team to beat the mighty Canada in the round robin, they beat Norway in an extra end in their final game of the championship.

They meet Norway again in the 3/4 playoff. Norway took the lead in after the first three ends, by the sixth they were three shots ahead, China had to draw against three in the seventh, Norway blanked the eighth. China tried to steal in end nine but didn't get the guard on. Norway cleared the house and ran China out of stones in the last end to win 7/5.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top: Thomas Ulsrud calls line.
Above: The Chinese team in action.
Pics by Hugh Stewart.

World Men's Curling Championship 12: Scots in Page 1-2

Going into their last game against Denmark, Scotland already knew they were safe in second place and therefore in the all important 1/2 playoff. If they lost they'd be on the same record as China and Norway, if they won their game they beat them on rankings.

It wasn't an exciting game to watch but the Murdoch four were doing a competent job, it was low scoring, Scotland led by one after eight ends. The ninth was the winning end. Danish third Lars Vilandt missed with his stone, that set up a two for Scotland.

They played the rest of the end perfectly, got the two for a three shot lead and ran Denmark out of stones in the last end to win 7/4.

Canada are top of the table 10/1, Scotland 8/3, China 7/4 and Norway, thanks to an extra end win against Australia, on 7/4.

China and Norway play at 1400 local time tomorrow (Friday), Canada and Scotland at 1900.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top pic: A happier coaches' bench this week.
Above: Recognise anyone? Scottish fans in the stands.
Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 11

Scotland went into their game against Germany tied with Norway in second place on a record of 6/3. Germany, China, France and Switzerland are all playing their last round robin game.

The game was close in the early ends, Germany got a two in end five for a one shot lead, Scotland bided their time blanking six and seven to score two shots in the eighth.

In end nine Scotland lay two, Andy Kapp for Germany tried a double but just got rid of one, Scotland had stolen for a two shot lead.

In the last end Scotland lay two shots behind cover, with his first stone Andy Kapp went for a draw, it was heavy all the way and ran right through the house, Germany was out of stones, Scotland won the game 5/3.

Canada with a game to play are 9/1, China beat Norway to finish the round robin on 7/4, Scotland are on 7/3, Norway on 6/4 play Australia tonight. France finished the round robin on 6/5 their best hope is a tiebreak.

The Scots, safe in the playoffs, meet Denmark tonight.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Top: Sco v Ger
Above: View from the ice
Pics by Hugh Stewart

World Men's Curling Championship 10

It's Wednesday night in Grand Forks and the Harlem Globetrotters are playing in the next door arena. Three of them gave a demonstration of sweeping a ball with corn brooms then popping it in the basket.....could be a whole new sport.

But back to Scotland against Switzerland at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on five wins Scotland need to keep winning to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot, Switzerland have won only two games and can't even make a tie break.

The Scots got off to a a great start, a raised take out in the third got them three and the lead. That disappeared when they gave up two in the fourth and a single against the head in the fifth when a double take out removed only one stone.

The second half was a bit nerve wracking, Scotland got two in the sixth, Switzerland blanked the next three ends, Scotland went into the last end two up but without last stone. They didn't get it wrong, keeping everything clear and ran Switzerland out of stones for a 6/4 win.

Canada are on a record of 8/1, Norway and Scotland 6/3, Australia, China, France and the USA are tied on 5/4.

Scotland play Germany and Denmark in their final round robin games tomorrow.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

Above: The photo of Peter Smith is by Hugh Stewart.

World Men's Curling Championship 9

Going into the first draw earlier today six teams including Scotland were tied in second place on four wins, Australia and France won this morning taking them to five, Denmark and Germany both lost.

In this draw Scotland took on Australia now on five wins, the teams swopped singles for the first couple of ends, Scotland got the advanatge in end four when David Murdoch had a hit for two, Australia got one in the fifth and the Scots blanked the next two ends. They really went for it in end eight piling stones into the house. It went a bit wrong towards the end but Murdoch had a shot to skinny out an Australian stone to pick up another two.

The Aussies got a two back in the ninth when a double take out didn't work but Scotland had the last stone for the final end. Australia lay two shots but the front of the house was wide open, David Murdoch drew the button for shot and game 6/4.

Canada still lead on 9/1, yup, the shock of the day China beat them in an extra end earlier today, Australia are on 5/4, France, Norway and Scotland 5/3.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here.

World Men's Curling Championship 8

It's Tuesday afternoon so it must be China, going into this game Scotland were tied on three wins with Denmark, Norway and the USA, both Norway and USA play in this session.

The result of this game was never in doubt, though the Chinese play well, they lack experience at this level, David Murdoch's hit for two in the fifth gave Scotland a three shot lead. It doesn't sound a lot but Scotland looked the stronger team all through the game.

Scotland were four shots up after eight and stole two in the ninth when Chinese skip Fengchun Wang was heavy with his final draw, China conceded, Scotland won the game 8/2.

Norway beat Germany 7/6, France beat USA 6/5 and Switzerland got their second win against the Czech Republic 8/7.

Canada lead the table on six wins, Germany, Australia, Norway and Scotland are tied on four wins.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

World Men's Curling Championship 7

Dropping games against the Czech Republic, USA and Canada means Scotland have to start winning games to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Sweden were next on the list, Swedish skip Anders Kraupp was alternate for Peja Lindholm for many years, the other three team members are all in their twenties with no international experience, they're one win behind Scotland.

It looked good in the first couple of ends, Scotland put four shots on the board. In the fourth David Murdoch's last stone wrecked on a front stone, Kraupp had a draw for three. In the sixth Sweden got another three when David's last stone raised take out didn't work.

Two more ends and the score was tied. But it all came good in end nine, Anders Kraupp tried to draw againt three but was a fraction heavy, David Murdoch had a draw for four shots. Sweden conceded, score 11/7 to Scotland.

China in a couple of hours.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

World Men's Curling Championship 6

Scotland met Canada in their fifth game of the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Canada have looked the strongest team so far, they haven't been threatened in any of their games.

Both teams played an aggresive game, quite happy to draw round guards and have stones in the house. It was low scoring, they were tied at three all after five and you wouldn't say either team had an advanatge.

Canada got one in the seventh and stole in the eighth when David Murdoch tried a double take out but only got one away, Canada were two up. Scotland got that back in the ninth when a Murdoch double did work to score two shots.

Canada had last stone for the final end, but they didn't need it, once again Murdoch tried a double hit, he moved only one stone, Canada got the game 6/5.

Canada top the table on five wins, Germany have four, USA and Australia are tied on three.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

World Men's Curling Championship 5

Draw six at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the sun is shining and Scotland were all set to play France. The Scots had one win from three games, France two, Scotland need a win here.

The teams matched each other for scores in the first four ends, France got three shots in ends one and two, Scotland three in ends three and four, so it was start the game again. The next two were blanked but the Murdoch four managed to steal one in the seventh, France got one in eight and Scotland blanked the ninth to keep last stone for the final end.

Scotland lay one with a French stone sitting right on top of it, with his first stone Murdoch tried to close the gap through to the house, it didn't draw quite enough but the gap was narrower. French skip Thomas Dufour tried to come through it with a tap back, it hung wide and wrecked, David Murdoch didn't have to play his last stone, Scotland had their second win 5/4.

Germany are unbeaten after four games, Canada have three wins from three games, USA three from four, the Czech Republic, France, Norway and Scotland are tied on two wins from four games.

Next up? Canada tonight.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

David Murdoch's photo in the game against France is by Hugh Stewart.

World Men's Curling Championship 4

Scotland on a record of 1/1 took on home team USA on the same win/loss record in their third game. USA had been on the wrong end of the game against the Czech Republic earlier today.

Neither team could get the advantage in the early ends, they were tied at four all after six, Scotland grabbed two in the eighth and USA got just one in the ninth. It looked ideal, Scotland went into the last end one up with last stone.

USA lay two shots when David Murdoch came to play his last stone, the front was wide open, a draw to the four foot would be fine. And it looked good all the way, but just a foot or so from the front of the house the stone picked up, changed handle and ground to a halt, USA had won the game 7/6.

Germany and Canada top the table on three wins, the Czech Republic and France are tied on two wins and one loss.

Find the linescores from the championship here. The event website is here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. The CurlingZone team, Gerry Geurts and Dallas Bittle, have an event blog here. Check it out.

World Men's Curling Championship 3

Sunday morning and it's time for Scotland's second game, against Norway. You may remember back in December the same teams met in the final of the European Championships, Scotland came out the winner of that one. Could they get over their shock defeat by the Czech Republic yesterday and win against Norway again?

First end, Norway's Thomas Ulsrud didn't quite make his two shots, David Murdoch had a draw for four, were the Scots on a roll? It looked like it, by the fifth they had a three shot lead.

Things went a little bit wrong in the seventh, David Murdoch called a double take out with the last stone of the end, just one stone went, Norway stole a single and the lead was cut to one.

The Scots took two in the eighth when Murdoch a hit on a Norweigan stone not quite frozen on a Scots' counter, they went into the ninth three up. Scotland lay one biting the one foot behind two guards, Ulsrud tried a draw to out count it but drew on to the Scottish stone, Scotland had stolen and Norway conceded the game, score 10/6.

There was just one other game in this draw, USA v The Czech Republic, and the Czechs did it again, they're unbeaten on 2/0.

In the ninth end Peter Annis, lead for the USA, limped off and alternate Kevin Kakela got his chance to throw some stones while Annis watched from the sidelines with an ice pack on his knee.

Find the linescores from the championship here. And the event website is here.

World Men's Curling Championship 2

Day one of the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Scotland, David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers came up against the Czech Republic, in the World Men's Championship for the first time.

It went right for the Czechs and wrong for the Scots from the opening ends. Scotland trailed by four shots after four ends when the Czechs stole two shots in the fourth end thanks to David Murdoch's last stone running out.

The second half didn't get better as the Scots tried to fight their way back into the game, a two in end nine cut the shot difference to two shots. In the final end Murdoch's last stone again ran out, they were out of stones, final score 7/5 to the Czech Republic.

Tomorrow they meet Norway who lost their opening game to the USA.

Find the linescores from the championship here. And the event website is here.

World Men's Curling Championship 1

The World Men's Curling Championship kicks off tomorrow at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Now just a little bit of info about the arena, Ralph went to Las Vegas to work, he ended up owning most of it and spent some of his millions building this arena. It is huge, the lifts alone would comforatbly house a family of four. The floors are marble, and all the seats are leather. As well as the arena there's a smaller ice pad, currently the Broken Broom lounge, you know the eating, drinking, meeting place. And the size of this arena you need a fixed meeting spot.

But enough of the arena, what about the teams?

There are some well known teams here with a track record and some unknowns. Kevin Martin's Canadian team went through the Brier undefeated, but Kevin may have a weak spot, he's got World and Olympic silver medals, he's never quite managed to win the final games at international level.

Team Scotland must be up with the favourites, David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers won the European Championships in December and between them they have handfuls of World gold medals. If they play as well as they did at the Europeans they should make to final four.

Switzerland has a a strong team, Patrick Hurliman is in at third, he got Olympic gold in 1998, he started playing with this team as a sub in the early part of the season but soon got absorbed into the team. Skip Claudio Pescia has played for both Italy and Switzerland.

Andi Kapp for Germany is without his brother Uli this year, Uli has had knee surgery so is unfit to play. But the rest of the team has been with Andi for a number of years. Andi's team got silver last year.

Thomas Ulsrud for Norway has come out from the shadow of Pal Trulsen, his team went through the Europeans undefeated to the last game when they met the Murdoch four. I think they could make the final four or at least a tie break.

The team from Denmark skipped by Johnny Frederiksen took the bronze medal at the Europeans and looked a solid foursome throughout that event, they could be fighting for a playoff spot.

Sweden would normally be tipped for the top but this is a new team this year. Skip Anders Kraupp certainly knows his way around international championships, for many years he was alternate for Peja Lindholm. This year he's got his own team, his second and third players are in their early twenties. No idea how well this team will perform.

The rest of the teams are unknown quantities, both China and the Czech Republic are making their first appearance at World Championships.

France, well what can I say, they're best known for giving the top teams, especially Scotland, a fright, I can't see them being in contention.

USA? Well skip Craig Brown comes from a well known curling family, he last won the US title in 2000 and this team has no track record, but at home who knows?

Hugh Millikin, the Australian skip, has played a number of World Championships since 1995 but never made an impact.

Sit back and enjoy.

Above Team Scotland L-R: David Murdoch, Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers. Photo by Hugh Stewart.