Kerri Einarson’s curling team passed a tough test in the women’s world championship to maintain an unbeaten record Monday.
Einarson’s foursome out of Manitoba’s Gimli Curling Club was a 9-6 winner over Denmark’s Madeleine Dupont, who was a tough out for the Canadians despite a reduced lineup of three players in the back half of the game.
“I knew it was going to be a great game,” Einarson said. “They played phenomenal. Madeleine made some really great shots to force us.
“We played really well, too. It’s good to have games like that, that test you and that make you make those clutch shots when you need them.”
Canada improved to 4-0 and is the only undefeated team in the field of 13.
Turkey and Switzerland are both 4-1, after Switzerland defeated the former 8-5 in Monday evening’s draw.
Japan is 3-1, Sweden improved to 3-2 after beating Australia 7-4 Monday night, and South Korea improved to 3-2 with a 7-5 extra-end win over the United States in the evening draw.
China and Scotland are both 2-3, Denmark, with an 11-7 loss to Scotland in the late draw, is also 2-3.
Italy is at 1-3, while Australia, the U.S. and Norway are all 1-4.
The top six teams at the conclusion of pool play Friday advance to the playoffs.
The top two earn direct entry into Saturday’s semifinals. The medal games are Sunday.
Einarson had hammer coming home with the score 6-6. With three Canadian stones flanking the button, Dupont had little room to draw the pin.
When her attempt ticked on a Canadian stone and fell short, Einarson didn’t have to throw her final rock.
Dupont is representing Denmark for the 17th time her career.
Her 17-year-old vice Katrine Schmidt, who throws second stones, left the game with illness after the fifth end when Canada led 5-4.
“She was not feeling 100 per cent when we started the game,” Dupont said. “It got worse and worse. She had a fever and was dizzy and she had to go.”
The Danes continued as a three-woman team because they didn’t have an alternate player.
Dupont’s sister and longtime teammate Denise Dupont was unable to compete in Calgary because she tore knee ligaments while skiing.
That absence brought the teenage Schmidt into the lineup for the world championship.
“We had a really decent game. This is our fourth game with Katrine. We don’t really know her,” Dupont said.
Dupont threw fourth stones for Angelina Jensen in 2007, when Denmark lost to Canada’s Kelly Scott in the world championship final in Aomori, Japan.
Einarson and vice Val Sweeting opted for the skip to throw a split — tapping a stone into the rings and rolling the shooter in to split the house — with Einarson’s first shot of the fifth end.
Dupont, whose shooting accuracy was 97 per cent early in the game, didn’t get the hit and roll she needed. Einarson had an open hit for two and a 5-4 lead.
“Kerri’s just dialed on those in-between shot shots and well-executed,” Sweeting said. “We expect to have close games like that against all the good teams here. We feel we’re doing a lot of things well and just have to keep that going.”
Einarson, Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Karlee Burgess seek their first world title, and a third straight for Canada after Rachel Homan’s team claimed back-to-back crowns.
Einarson, Sweeting, Birchard and Briane Harris were bronze medallists in 2024 in Sandviken, Sweden, and in 2023 in Prince George, B.C.
Einarson faces Italy in the morning and Switzerland in the evening Tuesday as the Canadians hit the uphill section of their schedule in Calgary.
Einarson plays the morning and evening draws for three straight days starting Tuesday, which makes for late nights followed by early mornings.
“This schedule is a grind,” said Einarson, who says the adrenalin she feels after a night game isn’t conducive to sleep.
“I don’t sleep at all, for real. It’s awful. That’s why I have bags under my eyes.
“I don’t even nap. I can’t nap. It’s so weird. I try and get my rest when I can. Even when I’m laying there resting my eyes, that’s good too.”
Renting accommodation near the WinSport Event Centre cuts down the commute, which Sweeting says helps manage fatigue.
“It can be tough going to sleep after a night game, especially if it’s a close game,” Sweeting said. “At the last world championship, we were like over half an hour away from the venue, so by the time you get back, you debrief, you eat and everything, it’s a very quick turnaround for the next morning.
“We’re grateful to be staying close by. It makes a huge difference.”
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