Men's Olympic Points

The 2012 World Men’s Curling Championship earned Olympic qualifying points for the competing nations.

Based on cumulative points earned for their finishes at Basel and in next season's World Men’s Championship in Victoria, BC, the top seven countries will compete at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, plus the host nation, Russia.

The points gained in 2012 are as follows:

Canada 14, Scotland* 12, Sweden 10, Norway 9, New Zealand 8, China 7, Denmark 6, USA 5, Switzerland 4, France 3, Germany 2, Czech Republic 1.

*Great Britain’s qualification points are gained by Scotland at World Championships.

As I noted before (see here) an additional two nations will have the chance to play in Sochi at a new World Curling Federation Olympic Qualifying Event to be held in December 2013. All nations having competed at the 2011, 2012 and 2013 World Championships will be eligible to compete in this event if they have not already secured their spot at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Here is the Scottish team with coach and alternate on the evening they were honoured at Basel. L-R: Ron Brewster, David Edwards, Michael Goodfellow, Scott Andrews, Greg Drummond and Tom Brewster. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: The Final

Glenn Howard's Canadian side of Wayne Middaugh, Brent Laing and Craig Savill are the World Champions, edging Scotland's Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow 8-7 after an extra end!

An overthrown freeze attempt on Tom's last stone at the third cost the Scots a three and they were chasing the game. Still, they got two back at the fourth and, after a great double from Tom, forced the Canadians to a single in the fifth. That made it Canada 3-2 at the break.

It was exciting to watch on the Eurosport Player with commentary from Kenny Edwards and Alison Walker!

Glenn Howard hadn't missed much all week, and given the slightest of chances for a two at the seventh, he took it perfectly, angling a Scottish stone six inches to the side to pick up two and go 6-4 ahead. The Scots came right back with a pair of their own, and it was 6-6 after eight.

The team forced the Canadians to take their one in the ninth, and it was into the last end one behind, with last stone!

As a Scottish supporter, I have never watched anything quite as exciting live on a curling webcast. Tom made a fabulous hit and roll behind the corner guards. Glenn corner froze, but there was a chance, albeit a slim one, for Tom to edge it away cleanly to count two. His stone needed to curl a fraction more, but didn't. Good enough for a single, and it was into an extra end!

It came down to the final stone. With two Scottish stones lying against him, Glenn had to draw the four foot, and his team put it on the button! What a game.

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here.

See highlights and post game interview here. And you can watch the whole game on the TSN VOD here. (Or just relive the tenth, and see how close Tom, Greg, Scott and Michael were to becoming World Champions!)

Mike Haggerty's reports are here. General reports are here. Richard Gray's photos are here.

L-R: Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Brent Laing and Craig Savill.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown. My thanks to Leslie for sending his photos for the blog.

World Men's: Bronze

Sebastian Kraupp, Fredrik Lindberg, Oskar Eriksson and Victor Kjaell from Sweden won the Bronze Medal game, defeating Norway's Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergaard, Thomas Loevold and Haavard Vad Petersson at the World Men's Championship in Basel.

Sweden got up in this one early - they were 7-3 ahead after six - but Norway fought back, taking the game to an extra. Sebastian had to find the four foot circle with last stone, and he did.

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here.

Top: Sebastian Kraupp.

Thomas Ulsrud.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

World Men's: The Semifinal

Scotland met Sweden in the semifinal of the World Men's Championship in Basel this evening. With skip Niklas Edin now recovering in hospital after surgery on a disc in his spine, Sweden was again skipped by Sebastian Kraupp, with Fredrik Lindberg, Oskar Eriksson and Victor Kjaell.

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow took a three in the fifth, which set them on the road to their win. Sweden closed things by stealing in the seventh, but a well taken two shots in the eighth extended Scotland's lead again, to 7-4.

The Swedes should have had their two in the ninth, but Sebastian's shooter rolled out on his double attempt. That meant that Scotland was 7-5 up coming home, with the hammer. A perfect angled runback from Tom made sure that his final stone would be an open takeout. That was right on target too, and the Tom Brewster team will be in the world final for the second year in a row, and guaranteed, at least, World Silver medals. Magic stuff! Very well done to the whole squad.

Interesting commentary setup tonight on the Eurosport Player, with Alison Walker and Logan Gray being joined by Dean Gemmell, lead on the USA team, who some blogallies will know from The Curling Show podcasts. So a lot more was being talked about than just the game on the ice!

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here.

The Bronze Medal game between Sweden and Norway is tomorrow morning, and Scotland will meet Canada in the Championship game tomorrow afternoon.

Yes! Tom's reaction as his last stone hits its target.

L-R: Scott Andrews, Michael Goodfellow, Greg Drummond.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

World Men's: Page 1-2

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow lost out to Glenn Howard's Canadian side of Wayne Middaugh, Brent Laing and Craig Savill in the Page 1-2 game in Basel, in an extra end.

Good to watch on the Eurosport Player - when the feed wasn't dropping off! Frustrating, but thank goodness for CurlIT's play by play graphics as the stand by. When there were moving pictures on my laptop screen, I saw some great curling! Tom's tap up in the fifth saw the Scots steal a point to go 2-1 up.

But the game turned in the eighth when Tom failed to find a good position with his last stone, leaving Glenn a double takeout to count four, and a 6-3 lead. Great shot! It should have been enough. But the Scots did get two back in the ninth, to be one down coming home, Howard with the hammer. Despite two tick shots from Craig Savill, Scotland was able to lie two when Howard went to play his last. A draw to the button would win the game, but it looked as if the Canadian sweepers failed to keep it clean, and the Canadian stone picked, and came up short.

So it was into an extra end. Two more tick shots from Savill! This time Glenn had a draw to the eight foot, and this was made perfectly.

Canada is now in tomorrow's final. Scotland will meet Sweden tonight in the semifinal, the winner gaining the other final place. So, there's another chance for Scotland to meet Canada again.

The linescore and shotmaking percentages are here. And you can watch the whole game with the TSN commentary team here.

Top: Greg Drummond encourages Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow who are working on their skip's stone. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Page 3-4

Sebastian Kraupp again skipped Sweden against Thomas Ulsrud's Norwegians in the Page 3-4 game at the World Men's Championship in Basel. Errors on the Norwegian skip's stones saw the Swedes take control, and they were 5-2 ahead at the interval. Although the Ulsrud team fought hard, they were still three down in the tenth and were run out of stones.

Logan Gray and Kenny Edwards were the commentators on the Eurosport Player webcast this morning.

Norway now drops into tomorrow's Bronze Medal game. Sweden advance to play the loser of the Page 1-2 game between Canada and Scotland. That game is next up in Basel.

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here.

Photo of Thomas Ulsrud and Sebastian Kraupp is © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Tiebreaker

Sweden won the tiebreaker against New Zealand for fourth place in the rankings at the World Men's Championship in Basel today. The Swedes were skipped by Sebastian Kraupp, Niklas Edin again sidelined with his back injury. He was in obvious discomfort on the ice in yesterday's games. Kraupp's team was always in control against Pete de Boer's side, and a five in the seventh finished it off.

Sweden will now face Norway in the Page 3-4 game.

The timings of the weekend's games, should you want to know when Scotland is back on:

SATURDAY, April 7
Page 3v4: Norway v winner of tie-breaker (09:00 local)
Page 1v2: Canada v Scotland (14:00 local)
Semifinal: Loser of Play-Off Game 1v2 v Winner of Play-Off Game 3v4 (20:00 local)

Basel local time is an hour ahead of Scotland.

SUNDAY, April 8
Bronze Medal Game: Loser of Page 3v4 vs Loser of Semifinal (11:00 local)
Gold Medal Game: Winner of Semifinal Vs Winner of Page 1 v 2 (16:00 local)

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here.

Mike Haggerty's reports are here. General reports are here. Richard Gray's photos are here. Highlights and interview videos are on the WCF's YouTube channel here.

John Brown has yet more goodies from off the ice here!

Pete de Boer delivers. Kenny Thomson and Scott Becker are the sweepers. Sean Becker in the house. A great week for the New Zealand team, to finish in fifth place in the rankings!

Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Game 11 v USA

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow had their second game of the day, this time against the USA, at the World Men's Championship in Basel. Heath McCormick failed to score in the first three ends, and the Scots went 5-0 ahead. The US came back strongly and twice got to within a shot of the Scots. Two for Brewster in the ninth saw Scotland three up playing the last, and it was enough!

Does the win puts Scotland into the Page 1-2 playoff? Norway won their game against France, at the last stone of an extra end, and finish on eight wins, the same as Scotland. Does Scotland get second place in the rankings, by dint of their win over Norway in their second game? I await confirmation.

(Added later. Leslie in Basel confirms Scotland in Page 1-2!)

But great stuff from our men! Well done to them.

Story of the day though was Pete de Boer and his New Zealand team defeating Canada, again at an extra end. The last couple of ends were shown on the Eurosport Player, and I confess I was cheering for Pete, Sean, Scott and Kenny. What a boost for curling in New Zealand! The win put the de Boer team in fourth place in the rankings with seven wins. However both Sweden and China, on six wins, have a game to play this evening. If either, or both, win, then tiebreakers would be necessary to find the fourth place team, who would then meet Norway in the Page 3-4 game.

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here.

Mike Haggerty's reports are here. General reports are here. Richard Gray's photos are here. Highlights and interview videos are on the WCF's YouTube channel here.

John Brown's Toothy Tales are here.

Top: Tom and Greg look at a difficult situation. USA are red. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Game 10 v Czech Republic

Scotland played the Czech Republic this morning at the World Men's Championship in Basel. Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow led Jiri Snitil's side 4-1 at the break, and 6-3 after seven. But the Czech team hit back with three in the eighth. Tom's side got their two in the ninth though. Faced with a double with his last stone in the tenth, Snitil only removed one. Scotland stole a single, and had the victory.

That win brings Scotland's tally to seven wins and three losses, equal with Norway, with one match, against the USA, to play. Canada top the table, without loss. New Zealand beat China this morning, and lie in fourth place, on six wins, equal with China and Sweden.

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here.

Mike Haggerty's reports are here. General reports are here. Richard Gray's photos are here. Highlights and interview videos are on the WCF's YouTube channel here.

John Brown's Toothy Tales are here.

Scott Andrews and Greg Drummond are ready on Michael Goodfellow's stone. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Game 9 v Canada

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow faced Glenn Howard's unbeaten Canadians in their ninth round robin game of the World Men's Curling Championship in Basel.

It was the Eurosport Player for me again this evening, and this was enjoyable to watch with commentary by Logan Gray and David Murdoch. There were some great shots played. The game was tied 3-3 after five ends. Canada was two in front after stealing the seventh. The Scots tied it up after eight, and, after a blanked ninth, the teams went down the tenth at 5-5, the Canadians with the hammer.

Tom made a perfect draw behind a Canadian stone in the eight foot, but Glenn Howard played the run back for the win.

Scotland has six wins and three losses, and is in joint second place in the rankings alongside China and Norway, with two more games remaining. Canada remains top, unbeaten in nine games. First up for the Scots tomorrow is the Czech Republic, then the USA.

You can find all the scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages here.

Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. General reports are here. Richard Gray's photos are here. Highlights and interview videos are on the WCF's YouTube channel here.

John Brown reports on WCF deliberations, including what lies in the future for that organisation, here.

Wayne Middaugh and Glenn Howard watch behind Tom Brewster as Greg Drummond's stone comes into the house. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Game 8 v Sweden

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow beat Sweden, with Niklas Edin in that team for the first time this week as skip. Three shots at the fifth gave Scotland a 5-2 lead, and it was over after nine ends.

You can find all the scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages here.

Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. General reports are here. Richard Gray's galleries are here. Highlights and interview videos are on the WCF YouTube channel here.

John Brown has some fascinating insights on what is happening behind the scenes in Basel here.

The coaches' bench. L-R: Soren Grahn, Ron Brewster, David Edwards.

Good to see Niklas Edin back on the ice, after a back injury.

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Game 7 v China

In Basel this evening at the World Men's Championship, Scotland beat China, skipped by Rui Liu, this team sitting above the Scots in the ranking before the match with five wins to Team Brewster's four.

The Scots were 7-5 up in the tenth, without last stone. Tom played an excellent freeze with his last, leaving the Chinese skip an almost impossible double to count two for the tie. But he only counted the one. Game to Scotland.

China, Sweden and Scotland are all now on five wins from seven games. Canada is undefeated.

I enjoyed seeing a couple of ends of the New Zealand v Czech Republic game on the Eurosport Player. Pete de Boer's side won this one, and Scotland 2 (!) is now on four wins from seven, the same record as Norway.

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are all here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. More general reports are here. Photo galleries are here. Highlights and interview videos are on the WCF YouTube channel here. John Brown's Toothy Tales from Basel are here.

Top: Tom Brewster, Michael Goodfellow, Greg Drummond and Scott Andrews. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Game 6 v France

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow lost to Thomas Dufour's French side, with Tony Angiboust at fourth stones, at the World Men's Championship in Basel. Down 3-4 in the tenth, the above graphic shows the position as Tom went to play his (unsuccessful) last stone. Scotland has the yellow stones. Angiboust has just played the guard at the top of the graphic after Tom was too long with his first draw. But you can replay the whole end here!

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. More general reports are here. Photo galleries are here. Highlights and interview videos are on the WCF YouTube channel here. John Brown's Toothy Tales from Basel are here, or click on the Toothy Tales link on the right.

Scotland has four wins and two losses, and is in fourth place in the rankings. Canada, skipped by Glenn Howard, is undefeated in seven games.

Glenn Howard. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

This is what the armchair curling enthusiast (aka curling nerd) does on a cold windy Tuesday afternoon. One half of the laptop screen has the shot-by-shot from the CurlIT site of the Scotland v France game. And on the other side of the screen I'm watching and listening to the coverage of the Canada v Denmark match on the Eurosport Player. Who says men can't multitask!

World Men's: Game 5 v Switzerland

Scotland defeated Jan Hauser's Swiss side, with Benoit Schwarz playing last stones, in their fifth game of the round robin at the World Men's Championship in Basel this afternoon. Up 6-4 in the tenth and looking in control, Scottish third player Greg Drummond hit a corner guard on the nose, and the Swiss were behind quickly. Suddenly Scotland was in danger of losing a three, and the game, as Tom's last stone only corner froze the Swiss counters hidden behind the guard. But Schwarz's last stone tap back was badly called, and rubbed the guard, leaving Scotland shot and game.

Kenny Edwards and Richard Harding were the commentators on the webcast this afternoon.

You can replay the shot positions on the graphical play-by-play here.

Find all the scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. More general reports are here. Photo galleries are here. And I like the little highlights and interview vids on the WCF YouTube channel here.

John Brown is in Basel, and you can follow his own blog posts here, or click on the Toothy Tales link on the right.

Top: Tom Brewster is in the head with Benoit Schwarz and Jan Hauser behind.

Benoit Schwarz.

Nadine and Christian Saager bringing you the CurlIT results service from what looks like an eyrie in the rafters of the arena!

Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown

World Men's: Game 3 v Denmark

Scotland lost to Denmark, skipped by Rasmus Stjerne, in Team Brewsters' only game today.

The scores, linescores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. Richard Gray's official WCF photos are here.

That's Greg Drummond in the head in the top photo, with Rasmus Stjerne and Johnny Frederiksen. Above, Tom Brewster. Photos © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

World Men's: Game 2 v Norway

Scotland beat Norway in their second round game at the World Men's Curling Championship in Basel, Switzerland, this evening. After fighting back from the loss of a big end early in the game, Team Brewster was tied 6-6 in the ninth, with the hammer. With lots of shots in play, Thomas Ulsrud was too heavy with his first, and could not get hidden with his last. This left Tom a hit to count five, and the game was over.

The scores, standings, and shotmaking percentages are here. Mike Haggerty's reports are on the Royal Club website here. Our own Richard Gray is the World Curling Federation's photographer at the event. See his photos here.

Photo of Tom Brewster is © Leslie Ingram-Brown

World Men's: Game 1 v New Zealand

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews and Michael Goodfellow defeated Pete de Boer's New Zealand side of Sean Becker, Scott Becker and Kenny Thomson in their first round game at the World Men's Curling Championship in Basel today. The Scots were two up without in the tenth. When Tom cleared Pete's nearly frozen first stone, the game was Scotland's.

Find all the results here. Mike Haggerty's reports will be on the Royal Club website.

It was interesting to listen to Kenny Edwards and David Murdoch (!) commentating on the USA - Germany game on the Eurosport Player. That's when the feed wasn't stuttering, or throwing up error messages. Then it was good to be able to follow the play-by-play on the CurlIT site, here.

Here is the New Zealand team. L-R: Pete de Boer, Sean Becker, Scott Becker, Kenny Thomson and Phil Dowling. Photo © Leslie Ingram-Brown.

Heading for Basel

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews, Michael Goodfellow, and alternate David Edwards, fly out to Switzerland today to compete in the World Men's Curling Championship in Basel. Aside from Scotland, the lineup includes Switzerland, Canada, China, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Germany, France and USA. The Scots' first games are on Saturday, against Pete de Boer's New Zealand side, and also Thomas Ulsrud's Norwegians.

There's a preview of the event here.

The event website for the draw and results is here. The teams are all shown here. The schedule for television and webcasts is here.