For immediate
release: 9 February 2015
Lohja, Finland – Russia remain the only undefeated team after five
sessions of play at the World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2015
being played at the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja, Finland.
Russia’s wins against Scotland and Sweden coupled with China’s first
defeat means that they alone sit in first place in the standings after
three days of play.
However, Russia found it tough going in a tight game against Scotland
in the morning session, with the teams tied 2-2 at the fourth end
break.
After that Russia took their first advantage in the game as skip Andrey
Smirnov drew into an open house for two points in the fifth end.
Scotland fourth Gregor Ewan was too heavy with his final draw with his
last stone in the next end which meant that the Scots could only take
one point.
Russia’s Smirnov then made a hit for two points in the seventh end to
extend their lead before Scotland conceded in the eighth end with the
final score 6-3.
On the next sheet, China lost their 100 percent record after losing to
the USA.
By the fourth end break the USA led 3-2 after taking two points in the
fourth end.
In the fifth end, China skip HaiTao Wang was too heavy with his final
draw to give up a steal of one point, and then, with his last stone of
the sixth end attempted a hit but rolled too far to give up another
single point steal.
The USA took confidence from their 5-2 lead as they eventually went on
to win 6-3.
Slovakia picked up their first win of the Championship as they defeated
Germany.
Some good set up play coupled with some mistakes by Germany allowed
Slovakia to score four points in the first end and they never looked
back.
Slovakia went on to win 11-3 after seven ends of play, an important win
as they look to avoid relegation to the World Wheelchair Curling
Qualification event.
Afterwards, Slovakia lead Monika Kunkelova said: “Finally we got our
first win! I have no idea why we have not been playing well, so we’re
very happy, it’s perfect to get the win. The first end was really
important, we were a little bit lucky in that end but it gave us a
great lead.”
Sweden and Canada started off tight as well. The first big score came
in the fourth end however when Canada scored three points to lead 4-2.
They then let their opponents back into the game as Sweden skip Jalle
Jungnell scored one point in the fifth end with a hit, and stole
another point in the sixth end to tie the game at 4-4.
By the eighth end, the Swedish skip had the opportunity to score two
points to win the game but hit and rolled too far to give up a steal of
one point which secured Canada’s 6-4 win.
Hosts Finland picked up their second win of the week in the morning
session against Norway.
Although the Norwegians scored three points in the seventh end to tie
up the game going into the final end, Finland prevailed, scoring two
points to seal their 7-5 win.
After the game, Finland skip Markku Karjalainen said: “I think the
playing style for both teams is pretty similar, so it’s always very
exciting when we play against Norway. I think in this game we had some
very good first stones in each end which gave us the chance to build
the game and that was our strength today.”
In the afternoon session of play, Russia continued their unbeaten
record as they defeated Sweden.
They started the game well as skip Andrey Smirnov made a hit for two
points to take a lead that they would never lose.
Russia went on to win 5-3 after seven ends of play, their fifth win
from five games so far.
The North American derby between the USA and Canada proved to be a high
scoring game.
The first big score came in the fourth end when USA skip Patrick
McDonald played a draw into a busy house with his final stone to score
four points, giving them a 5-2 lead at the break.
Canada levelled the game immediately in the next end, scoring three
points, before the USA went ahead again after scoring two points in the
sixth end.
The tables turned once more as Canada took the lead, scoring three
points in the seventh end to lead 8-7 going into the final end.
There, USA skip Patrick McDonald held his nerve to make a draw into the
back of the eight foot ring to take the two points needed for their 9-8
win, their second of the day.
Afterwards, McDonald reflected on the game. He said: “You know, you get
on a nice roll and you’re feeling good and the next thing you know you make two little mistakes and
boom, they’re right back in it. You make a couple more mistakes,
boom, they go ahead. But we didn’t give up, we played hard. This
team is so focused. We didn’t worry.”
China meanwhile got back to winning ways with an 8-3 win against
Slovakia. After stealing three points from the first two ends a score
of three points in the sixth end further enhanced their lead as they
went ahead 7-3.
Slovakia eventually conceded the game in the eighth end to give China
their fourth win of the Championship so far.
After this game, China skip HaiTao Wang said: “Today we had two
different games - this morning we felt nervous for some reason,
throughout the whole team. After that game we had a discussion and all
adjusted our mentality. After that we all felt much more relaxed this
afternoon.
Speaking about the game he added: “The sixth end was crucial for
us as it gave us a four point lead. That was really important at that stage
of game.”
Norway picked up their first win of the Championship against Scotland
in what proved to be a close game.
Norway were ahead 2-1 by the fourth end break and after Scotland failed
to remove a counting Norwegian stone in the eighth end, Norway closed
out the game with a steal of two points to win 6-2.
Elsewhere, Germany suffered their second heavy defeat of the day as
they lost 7-1 to Finland.
RESULTS
Session 4:
Russia 6, Scotland 3; China 3, USA 6; Germany 3, Slovakia 11; Canada 6,
Sweden 4.
Session 5:
China 8, Slovakia 3; Scotland 2, Norway 6; Sweden 3, Russia 5; Finland
7, Germany 1; USA 9, Canada 8.
Standings after 5
sessions of play (W-L):
1. Russia 5-0
2. China 4-1
2. USA 4-1
4. Finland 3-2
5. Canada 2-3
5. Germany 2-3
5. Scotland 2-3
8. Norway 1-4
8. Slovakia 1-4
8. Sweden 1-4
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