Brad Gushue delivered when it mattered most, stealing three points in the ninth end to lift Canada past Sweden 7-5 in a dramatic opening draw at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Geneva.
The St. John’s skip capitalized on Swedish fourth Niklas Edin’s miscue with the hammer, drawing perfectly to the button behind cover to turn a 5-4 deficit into a commanding 7-5 lead with just one end remaining.
Precision Under Pressure
Gushue’s game-changing shot came after Sweden had controlled much of the contest. Edin, seeking his seventh world title, appeared in command after posting two points in the seventh end to take a 5-3 advantage.
“We knew we needed a big end there,” said Gushue, who improved to 2-0 in round-robin play. “The guys set it up perfectly, and I just had to execute.”
The turning point arrived when Swedish third Oskar Eriksson’s guard attempt slid wide, leaving Gushue with multiple scoring opportunities. The 43-year-old veteran made no mistake, threading his final stone through a narrow port to nestle behind Swedish cover.
Edin attempted a difficult double takeout to salvage the end but came up light, allowing Canada to steal three and shift momentum completely.
Early Fireworks Set the Stage
The match opened with both teams trading early advantages. Sweden struck first with a deuce in the opening end before Canada responded with a single in the second.
Gushue’s squad, featuring third Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker, found their rhythm in the fourth end. A perfectly executed draw shot by Nichols set up Gushue for two points and a 3-2 lead.
Sweden answered immediately in the fifth, as Edin delivered a precise tap-back to score two and regain the advantage at 4-3. The back-and-forth continued through the sixth, with Canada managing just a single to tie the game heading into the crucial middle ends.
Swedish Miscues Prove Costly
Edin’s team appeared to seize control in the seventh end, posting two points to build their largest lead of the contest. The Swedish lineup, which includes third Oskar Eriksson, second Rasmus Wranaa and lead Christopher Sundgren, had been nearly flawless through the first six ends.
But curling’s unforgiving nature struck in the eighth. After Canada managed just a single to cut the deficit to 5-4, Sweden’s strategy in the ninth end backfired spectacularly.
“We had them where we wanted them, but one mistake changes everything in this sport,” Eriksson said after the loss. “Brad made a great shot when he had to.”
The steal of three marked the largest single-end scoring swing of the tournament’s opening day and highlighted the razor-thin margins that define elite curling competition.
Championship Implications
The victory keeps Canada undefeated in Group A play alongside Scotland and Switzerland. Gushue’s team entered the championship as the defending Olympic silver medalists, having captured bronze at last year’s worlds in Ottawa.
For Sweden, the loss drops them to 1-1 in round-robin action. Edin’s squad remains one of the tournament favorites despite the setback, with seven previous world championship titles between 2013 and 2022.
The result also carries significance for Canada’s playoff positioning. With only four teams from each group advancing to the semifinals, every point stolen or surrendered could prove decisive in the final standings.
Gushue acknowledged the importance of building early momentum in a field featuring traditional powerhouses like Scotland, Switzerland and Norway.
Canada returns to action Thursday against Norway’s Steffen Walstad, while Sweden faces a must-win scenario against Germany in the afternoon draw.
