Eve Muirhead's team has beaten Anna Sidorovo's Russians in the Page 3-4 game at the Le Gruyere European Curling Championships in Moscow. The game went to the last stone of an extra end.The Scots will now meet Denmark in the semifinal.
Leslie reports from Moscow:
"In a night of frenetic curling, it was nigh impossible to watch all five games as all had implications for all teams. Firstly, congratulations to Eve, Anna, Vicki and Claire who were to beat Russia taking a three at the extra end. Let's look at how the night unfolded.
First off the ice was the Women's 1 v 2 Page Play-off between Sweden and Denmark. This was a one sided affair which Sweden won 12-6 in nine ends and go direct to the final. Denmark now plays the semifinal against Scotland.
Next off was the Men's 1 v 2 Page game between Sweden and Norway which was won by Sweden 5-4 with a last stone draw to the button by skip Niklas Edin. Norway will now play the semifinal against the Czech Republic who defeated Denmark 9-8 with the Danes now playing the Bronze Medal game.
Then we had Switzerland against the Czech Republic in the second tiebreak to decide ranking 7 and 8 with the winner going directly to the Women's Worlds and the loser being challenged by the B Group Gold Medallist for the eighth and final place for Europe at the World Championships. Switzerland won 6-4 with Manuela Siegrist, throwing last stones, drawing for a single at the last end.
And finally to Eve's game where with the hammer Eve blanked the first end before drawing for a two with last stone in the second. Third end and Anna Sidorova had to draw shot with the last stone. Fourth and Eve hit for a deuce and Scotland were ahead 4-1.
In the fifth end Eve was short with her draw. Sidorova hit to lie two. Eve raised to second but was open for Sidorova, on the swinging ice, to come round and punch the stone back to collect three shots and tie the game 4-4 at the break.
In the sixth, Eve lay shot as she went to play her last stone but came up just short for two, and only collected a single. Seventh and Sidorova missed her last stone draw and the Scots stole one.
Eighth and Sidorova drew against three to pick up a single, then Eve blanked the ninth to retain last stone in the tenth end. Russia lay three shots and Eve attempted a quiet double but got the angles wrong and it was into an extra end.
The Scots were in control in the extra and with the last stone Eve had a takeout to win. She took the opportunity and counted three shots."
RESULTS
Women
Page 1 v 2: Sweden 12 Denmark 6
Page 3 v 4: Scotland 9 Russia 6
Ranking 7/8: Switzerland 6 Czech Republic 4
Men
Page 1 v 2: Sweden 5 Norway 4
Page 3 v 4: Czech Republic 9 Denmark 8
Mike Haggerty's reports for the Royal Club are here.
All the results, standings, and statistics are here.
John Brown has what's happening in the B divisions, here. Today he has a report too from the European Curling Federation Annual Meeting.
Top: Anna and Eve discuss options, as Anna Sidorova and Liudmila Privivkova watch behind.Above: Lucy delivers, with Ekaterina Galkina and Margarita Fomina sweep.
Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown
