WMDC2008: The level of play on rise

In the morning Canada gave Estonia a two-point lead, but took it back right away with five points in the second. Later on Canada demonstrated their hitting strenght and gave Estonia no chance to catch up. The score was 10-3 after seven ends. Japan and Sweden played a tight match with very many rocks in play and in the end it were the Swedes to gain upper hand by taking three in the seventh. Japan tried to fight back in the eight but Swedens four point lead was enough. Slovakia had a decent chance to take three points and win its game against Italy, but they missed their final wide open take-out and Italy won the game. Hungary also took its first victory by a victory over England 9-2.

The highlight of the midday round was a clash between Norway and Scotland. The teams exchanged points with the hammer and before the eight it was a one point lead for Norway without the hammer. Norway set up an a great position with two stones in top-four foot behind the guards until Dillan Perras of Scotland threw a very difficult raise double take-out leaving three Scottish stones in the house. Tormod Andreassen had to draw to four-foot and succeeded, but the stone bumped a little and lied second shot almost wholly open. Judith Carr had a take-out for victory, but missed the shot and it was an extra end. Norway now with the hammer defended their stones in the house with success and won the game.

The best shot of the competition so far was still to come. Czech Republic had a two-point lead against France in the eight and had a single stone perfectly buried behind the guards. France had no other option than a raise take-out near the barrier well front of the house. Almost everyone in the audience thought the game would be over but Lionel Roux of France had a different opinion. He made the shot, lied three and won the game 8-7! During the draw Latvia and Australia also moved to 1-1 by defeating Russia and Spain which are now at 0-2.