(Schaffhausen) Italian Joel Retornaz made a draw in the four-foot zone that gave him a 7-6 victory in an extra end against Canadian Brad Gushue on Monday at the World Men’s Curling Championship.
It was the first preliminary round loss for the veteran Canadian skip and his teammates Mark Nichols, EJ Harnden and Geoff Walker. Italy is now tied with Canada, Germany and the United States in the standings, at 3-1.
Gushue, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, said he had difficulty controlling his stones in the first half of the match.
“I exchanged them with those of Geoff (Walker), and from that moment my sensations were very different,” he confided. The trajectory of one of my stones curved less than the others. It played tricks on me, so I couldn’t trust where I put my broom. »
Canada posted a 90% efficiency rate and caused overtime to take place with a double in the 10the end. Italy had a rate of 87%.
The Swede Niklas Edin (5-0) and the reigning tournament champion, the Scot Bruce Mouat (4-1), lead after the first seven programs of the tournament. American John Shuster and German Marc Muskatewitz are tied with Canada and Italy at 3-1.
In the other matches on show, Edin defeated the Norwegian Magnus Ramsfjell 10-8, Mouat beat the New Zealander Anton Hood 8-2 and the Swiss Yannick Schwaller defeated the Dutchman Wouter Gösgens 8-5.
Switzerland is currently excluded from top 6 giving access to the playoffs, at 2-2. Norway, the Netherlands, the Czech Lukas Klima and the Japanese Shinya Abe follow at 1-3.
Gushue will benefit from an evening break, before resuming hostilities against New Zealand (0-4) on Tuesday morning.
The preliminary phase will continue until Friday, and the medals will be distributed on Sunday.
Canada hasn’t won gold at the World Men’s Curling Championship since 2017, when Gushue triumphed in Edmonton.