Final play-off places up for grabs on day six of the world mixed doubles round-robin stage

The final round-robin session of the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2018 saw the last remaining play-off place decided.

Denmark defeated Belarus 6-3 to end Belarus’ play-off hopes and finish in fourth place. This result means Finland take the 16th play-off place as the fourth placed team with the best draw shot challenge score.

Norway beat Hungary 8-3 to finish the round-robin undefeated and secure top spot in their group, while Hungary finished in second place.

Russia defeated Poland 13-3 scoring five points in the first end on their way to their fifth win of the competition.

Elsewhere in the session Turkey defeated Croatia 16-0 while England beat Romania 9-8.

The play-off stage begins tomorrow (Friday 27 April) morning at 09:00 CEST with the first session of the Last 16 stage and is followed with the second Last 16 session at 12:30 CEST.

[Pictured below: Denmark's Christine Vita Gronbech | Photo © WCF / Tom Rowland]

Japan qualified for the play-offs after their extra-end win against Finland 6-5. In the eighth end, Japan held Finland to a single point to force the extra-end where Japan executed a draw to the four-foot for the single point to win the match. This result also qualified Russia, despite not playing in this session.

Italy opened their match with six points in the first end on their way to a 15-2 victory against Luxembourg.

Also in the session, Switzerland played Latvia and were up 6-0 after three ends. Latvia tied the game by scoring three points in the fourth end then stealing three points in the fifth end, before taking the lead with a further three point score in the seventh end. The Swiss scored four points in the eighth end to win 11-9.

Scotland beat China 8-5 with help of three points in the seventh end, while Slovenia beat Netherlands 12-3.

With the results from this session, all 15 pool qualifiers are decided, with just one play-off position remaining. This remaining place goes to fourth place finisher with the best Draw Shot Challenge (DSC) score, which will be determined after tonight's final round-robing session.

[Pictured below: Team Japan | Photo © WCF / Richard Gray]

Czech Republic and United States secured their places in the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2018 play-offs with wins in this session.

Czech Republic defeated Guyana 10-1 in just six ends, scoring in all but one of the ends played. This completes the automatic qualification places from Group E.

United States faced Australia with the winner claiming one of the automatic play-off places from Group A.

The scores were tied at 7-7 after eight ends, taking the game to an extra end, and in that extra end with the United States’ last stone, Sarah Anderson played a hit to sit shot stone.

Australia’s Lynn Hewitt then had the opportunity to win the game but came up just short with her draw the button giving United States the steal of one point, the 8-7 win, and a place in the play-offs.

Elsewhere in the session, Korea completed their round-robin undefeated with seven wins after beating previously undefeated Canada 8-5.

Kazakhstan beat New Zealand 12-5 for their third win of the week and in the final game of the session Israel claimed their first win of the week when they beat France 8-3.

[Pictured below: Team Czech Republic | Photo © WCF / Richard Gray]

Hosts and previously qualified Sweden finished their final round-robin game strong by shutting out Hong Kong 11-0 after six ends in the day's morning session of round-robin play at the Östersund Arena.

Continuing their undefeated record, the Estonians cruised to a 10-5 win over Lithuania with the help of six points on a power play in the sixth end.

Brazil finished on a winning note with a victory against Ireland. The Brazilians made a draw to the four-foot with their last stone for the single point and the win 7-6.

In other matches, Slovakia beat Spain 10-9 in an extra end with a draw to the button and Germany won over Austria 8-6.

Results

Session 25: Slovakia 10-9 Spain; Sweden 11-0 Hong Kong; Austria 6-8 Germany; Estonia 10-5 Lithuania; Ireland 6-7 Brazil.

Session 26: Australia 7-8 United States; Korea 8-5 Canada; Czech Republic 10-1 Guyana; Kazakhstan 12-5 New Zealand; Israel 8-3 France.

Session 27: Scotland 8-5 China; Slovenia 12-3 Netherlands; Finland 5-6 Japan; Switzerland 11-9 Latvia; Luxembourg 2-15 Italy.

Athlete quotes from day six can be found at: http://www.worldcurling.org/wmdcc2018/day-six-quotes

For up-to-date standings from each group in the championship visit http://www.worldcurling.org/wmdcc2018/livescores

To engage with the World Curling Federation on social media in the build to the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2018 follow it on Twitter, Instagram (@worldcurling) and Facebook (/WorldCurlingFederation) and use the hashtags when posting: #WMDCC2018 #curling