Swiss curlers miss first World Cup final in 20 years

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The Swiss curlers around Skip Yannick Schwaller have to settle for the bronze medal match at the World Cup in Ottawa.

After winning all last eight round robin matches, they lose the semifinal to Canada 5-7.

At the start of the round robin, Pablo Lachat, Sven Michel, Yannick Schwaller and Benoît Schwarz from CC Geneva defeated the Canadians led by the 2006 Olympic champion and the 2017 world champion 8:3. However, the semi-finals are hard-fought from the start. Crucial is a zero-end, which the Canadians can record in the 9th end with a score of 5:5. This means they only need one point to win in the 10th end with the advantage of the last stone.

Now Italy is waiting

In the game for 3rd place, Geneva will play against Italy around Skip Joël Retornaz on Easter Sunday at 5 p.m. Swiss time – against the team against which they suffered their only defeat in the twelve-game round robin. The Italians lose their semi-final against the three-time European champion from Scotland around Skip Bruce Mouat 8:9 after an extra end.

In the semifinals, the Swiss did not reach the strength with which they distinguished themselves in most round robin matches. You can note a percentage of 84 percent of successful bricks. It is too little compared to the Canadians, who put in a world-class performance at 93 percent. In fourth place, Benoît Schwarz loses the duel with the veteran Brad Gushue with 80:95 percent.

The Geneva quartet could have been the first Swiss men’s team in 20 years to reach a World Cup final. In 2003, St. Gallen in Winnipeg, led by Skip Ralph Stöckli, lost the gold game against Canada (Randy Ferbey). (SDA)

Source : Blick