Seventh end: As one might expect, Jacobs keeps things clean all end. Skips stones, Canada laying one on button, China frozen at edge of that stone, Canada also sits on at top eight foot. Jacobs makes runback to lay three all over house. China freezes down to Canada rock in four foot and sit on button. Jacobs clears both out. Xu hits and rolls too far, Canada steals one. And that’s the game.
Canada 8 China 2
Also: Sweden 10 Scotland 4 F (six ends)
Switzerland 8 Italy 3 F (six ends)
Norway 9 Korea 5
Sixth end: Canada sitting shot rock at top of four foot at skips stones, China second shot back eight foot and Canada third shot top 12 foot, with China also having a biter back 12 foot. Jacobs skirts guard, hits China stone in eight foot and rolls back four foot. Xu hits Canada rock in top eight foot and sticks. Jacobs hits that rock and rolls into 12 foot. Xu hits Canada stone at back four foot but can’t hold shooter and rolls out. Canada steals two.
Canada 7 China 2
Also: Sweden 10 Scotland 4 F (six ends)
Switzerland 8 Italy 3 F (six ends)
Norway 7 Korea 5
Fifth end: After the carnage the previous end, things are clean this time around, with Kennedy hitting and sticking with final shot to lay one touching four foot, China second shot back eight foot. Xu hits Canada stone and rolls top eight foot. Jacobs attempts double but runs back and gets one, Canada biting top eight foot, China shot stone back eight foot. Xu draws back eight foot other side of house to prevent double. Jacobs draws four foot for one.
Canada 5 China 2
Also: Norway 7 Korea 3
Switzerland 8 Italy 1
Sweden 7 Scotland 4
Fourth end: At skips stones, five rocks lined up along centreline from top of house to button, with Canada ultimately laying one on the button. Jacobs adds to mess by drawing in to eight foot. Xu makes nice tap back to put own stone on front of button, with Canada at back of button, five rocks guarding in house in front. Jacobs throws high centerline guard, basically staying out of the way. Xu tries angle raise but not even close, China settles for one.
Canada 4 China 2
Also: Norway 6 Korea 3
Switzerland 7 Italy 1
Sweden 7 Scotland 2
Third end: Cluster of stones all over four foot at skips stones. Xu freezes to Canada second shot on button, with that Canada stone frozen to China counter at back of button. Jacobs makes fantastic double to lay four all at top of four foot with first shot. Close proximity of all the rocks makes for easy clear attempt and big weight takeout lets Xu get rid of three Canada stones, though one sticks around in eight foot, giving Jacobs draw for two with final shot. He draws button for deuce.
Canada 4 China 1
Also: Norway 6 Korea 1
Switzerland 7 Italy 0
Sweden 5 Scotland 2
Second end: Canada in good shape after Gallant taps out China stone on button to sit three in four foot and on button all above t-line. End progresses, Fei makes nice double on first shot to clear things out, China laying one in eight foot, Canada second shot back 12 foot. Kennedy hits and rolls behind long guard back four foot. Fei draws behind cover top 12 foot. Jacobs has delicate hit and rolls to full 12 foot at side of house, Canada lays three. Xu freezes to Canada rock in four foot. Jacobs throws spinner at frozen pair in attempt to remove and only gets his own. Xu has draw for two and comes up light. China settles for one.
Canada 2 China 1
Norway 2 Korea 1
Switzerland 2 Italy 0
Scotland 2 Sweden 1
First end: Kennedy final stone draws in behind cover at side 12-foot, Canada also laying second shot back eight foot. Xu hits Canada stone back eight foot to sit full back eight foot. Jacobs hits and sticks to sit full back eight foot. Xu repeats his previous shot to touch back four foot. Jacobs has wide open hit for two. And wouldn’t you know it, the guy shooting 92 per cent on hits all week makes it with ease.
Canada 2 China 0
Also: Norway 2 Korea 0
Sweden 1 Scotland 0
Switzerland 2 Italy 0
Canada has hammer in the first end, and by the slimmest of margins as they win the LSD by less than four centimetres.
The beat goes on! And you’ll never guess, Canada has another tough one, this time against a team one win behind them in the standings and the tournament leader up until last night: China’s Xiaoming Xu. Canada’s Brad Jacobs is finally all alone in first place at 7-1 and China is part of a three-way tie for second at 6-2, so this will be another interesting one.
Sheet A
Norway (Ramsfjell, 4-4) vs. Korea (Kim, 0-8)
Norway LSD: 23.1 cm
Korea LSD: 177.0
Sheet B
Italy (Retornaz, 3-5) vs. Switzerland (Schwaller, 6-2)
Italy LSD: 87.0 cm
Switzerland LSD: 39.8 cm
Sheet C
Sweden (Edin, 5-3) vs. Scotland (Mouat, 6-2)
Sweden LSD: 29.3 cm
Scotland LSD: 123.1 cm
Sheet D
Canada (Jacobs. 7-1) vs. China (Xu, 6-2)
Canada LSD: 42.7 cm
China LSD: 46.3 cm
