Champs Move On!

Switzerland punches ticket to playoffs at BKT Tires World Women’s Championship

They were a little later than usual getting to the party but skip Silvana Tirinzoni’s Team Switzerland has qualified for the playoffs at the 2024 BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship in Sydney, N.S.

The Swiss (8-2), the four-time defending champions, clinched their berth into the weekend playoffs after scoring a decisive seven-end 9-1 victory Thursday afternoon over skip Madeleine Dupont’s Team Denmark (6-4) at Centre 200.

The top six teams at the end of the 13-team round robin qualify for the weekend playoffs, with the top two advancing straight to the semifinals.

The playoffs are a familiar place for Tirinzoni and vice-skip Alina Paetz, who are looking to win their fifth straight world title. Their road to the playoffs hit a couple of potholes with back-to-back losses mid-week, but they got back on track with two wins Thursday. Tirinzoni is also supported by second Selina Witschonke, lead Carole Howald and coach Pierre Charette.

Team South Korea (7-2), skipped by Eunji Gim, took a step closer to the playoffs Thursday. The Koreans, ranked No. 2 by World Curling, continued their fine play with a 7-4 victory over skip Marianne Roervik’s Team Norway (3-7).

Team Canada (9-0) and Team Italy (8-1), which both had the bye, qualified earlier.

The Danes fell into the mad scramble for the final three playoff spots as teams continued to sort themselves out.

Also hanging in there is Team Sweden (6-4), skipped by Anna Hasselborg. The Swedes, who lost three games at the start of the competition, have roared back nicely, with their latest win an 8-5 decision over Team Estonia (1-8), skipped by Liisa Turmann.

Team U.S.A. (4-5), skipped by Tabitha Peterson, also has an outside chance to make the playoffs. All other teams are eliminated. 

Meanwhile, Team Scotland (4-6), skipped by Rebecca Morrison, hung up a 6-5 win over skip Dilsat Yildiz’s Team Turkey (2-8) in a game played strictly for pride.

Other teams with the bye Thursday afternoon included U.S.A., Japan (3-6), and New Zealand (1-8).

Team Canada faces Team New Zealand in the evening.

The third- through sixth-ranked teams after the round-robin wraps up Friday evening compete in playoff qualification games (3 vs. 6; 4 vs. 5) with the winners advancing to the semifinals. The semifinal winners play in the gold-medal game and the losers play for bronze. 

Homan is looking to win her second world title. She won her first in 2017 with Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney and Lisa Weagle.

The final goes Sunday at 5 p.m. (all times Atlantic).

The 2024 BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship continues with a draw at 7 p.m.

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2024 BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship are available by CLICKING HERE.

TSN and RDS2 will provide complete coverage of the 2024 BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

For ticket information for the 2024 BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championship, go to www.curling.ca/2024worldwomen/tickets/.

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/2024worldwomen/nouvelles/?lang=fr