Canada’s fifth straight win at the women’s world curling championship was a lesson in adaptation for Kerri Einarson.
Struggling early with draw weight, the skip swapped a stubborn stone with a teammate at the fifth-end break en route to a 9-6 win Tuesday over Italy’s Stefania Constantini.
“I knew my rock was maybe a little slow because I came up light in the fourth end and they liked it out of my hand,” Einarson explained.
“It just kind of dug in and then in the fifth, it did the same thing, so I just said, ‘Let’s get rid of it.”‘
Canada played its first morning draw at Calgary’s WinSport Event Centre.
The rising temperature outside made for a warm building inside. Cheering schoolchildren contributed volume and more heat to the draw.
“It’s very warm in here, and I think it’s very pathy now that it’s kind of warm out,” Einarson said. “If you’re in a good track, it’ll run. If you are outside of that, it is a little bit heavier, and I got caught a couple times.
“We’ll know what to expect now that we played a morning game and it is getting a little warmer outside, so we’ve just got to be able to adjust to that a little quicker.”
Canada was alone atop the standings at 5-0 ahead of Japan, Switzerland and Turkey at 4-1 and Sweden at 4-2. South Korea was 3-2.
China, Denmark and Scotland were 2-4. Australia, the United States and Norway were 1-4 and Australia was 1-5.
Einarson was to face Switzerland’s Xenia Schwaller at night. Tuesday was the first of three “split” days for Canada playing in the morning and evening draws.
The top six teams at the conclusion of pool play Friday advance to playoffs. The top two earn direct entry into Saturday’s semifinals. The medal games are Sunday.
There are no tiebreaker games. Head-to-head results are the first tiebreaker.
Ranking the average distance of last stone draws (LSD), made by a team before their games to determine who starts with hammer, is the next tiebreaker.
Canada ranked first among the 13 countries in last stone draws after five games, which is insurance for playoffs and seeding.
Curling Canada eliminated tiebreaker games from its men’s and women’s championships in 2023 to align with World Curling formats that had dropped tiebreakers in 2018.
Canada’s Jennifer Jones was ultimately eliminated from playoffs at the 2022 Olympic Games on last-stone draw rankings. Her team ranked 10th out of 10 in that category.
So, draw-the-button skills have become integral to success. Einarson says every practice session starts with their pre-game routine that includes drawing the button.
“It’s huge now,” Einarson said. “It’s so crucial, draw the button.”
Constantini was on a curling marathon after winning Olympic bronze in mixed doubles with Amos Mosander, and then skipping the Italian women to a 2-7 record last month at the Milano-Cortina Games.
“I am playing a lot of competitions, one after another, and really important ones, so it’s cool,” said the 26-year-old Constantini said. “It’s important to really keep the focus every time and be able to restart and reset after every competition.
“We’re here. Maybe it’s not the best start for us, but we are trying to improve our performance at least.”
Tied 5-5, Italy let Canada off the hook in the eighth end when third Val Sweeting missed a thin double attempt to lie three.
Her Italian counterpart Giulia Zardini Lacedelli was heavy on a draw to give Sweeting a second try. Canada’s vice didn’t miss.
“You get a second chance at a shot like that, she’s not missing,” said Canadian second Shannon Birchard.
Constantini’s draw attempt rubbed on another stone, which gave Einarson a hit for four. The skip’s shooter rolled but bit the edge of the rings for the fourth point and a 9-5 lead.
The Italians scored a single point in the ninth and shook hands.
Einarson, Sweeting, Birchard and lead Karlee Burgess out of Manitoba’s Gimli Curling Club seek their first world title, and to keep the women’s crown in Canada after back-to-back victories by Rachel Homan.
