Canada strike early against Czechia, Estonia fall to Switzerland
Joining them in victory was Canada’s husband-and-wife team Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, who notched a commanding 10-5 win over Czechia.
The pair started proceedings with a steal of one, before then adding a four-point steal to the board to lead 5-0 after two ends.
It was an advantage the Canadians would not relinquish.
Sitting 7-3 up after four ends, they successfully held Julie Zelingrová and Vit Chabičovský to one in their power play end before pulling away further in the sixth with a pinpoint tap by Peterman for three.
Tomorrow, the pair face sterner tests, with a match against the Republic of Korea in the morning, before taking on the defending champions Italy in the evening.
Elsewhere, Estonia’s hopes of a winning start to their historic Olympic debut were dashed by Switzerland in a compelling extra-end clash that ended 9-7.
Chasing a 7-3 lead at the close of the seventh end, Hari Lill and Marie Kaldvee pounced on a string of Swiss errors to flip the script with a four-point eighth end to tie the game.
But despite their best efforts without the hammer, they were ultimately run out of stones as they tried to force a steal, and so conceded their opening game.
Sweden, meanwhile, needed just six ends to see off the Republic of Korea 10-3 in a solid display. Up 5-3 after four ends, brother-and-sister pairing Rasmus and Isabella Wranå punished a short raise attempt by Kim Seonyeong with her final rock, for a decisive four-point end.
After adding to the tally with a steal of one, the Koreans reached for handshakes, handing the 2024 world champions the win.
The mixed doubles curling action will continue tomorrow with reigning world and Olympic champions Italy taking to the ice for the first time in the first of the day’s three sessions.
The United States will also join the melee, taking on Norway, also in the morning.