Scotland’s women’s curling team delivered a crucial double victory at the World Women’s Curling Championship in South Korea, significantly enhancing their chances of reaching the play-offs. Sophie Jackson’s rink secured wins against the United States and Japan, propelling them to sixth place in the round-robin standings.
Key Victories Lift Scotland in Standings
With a record of five wins and four defeats, Scotland is now in contention for one of the six coveted play-off spots. Their latest success came against higher-ranked Japan in a dramatic 6-5 encounter, following a tight 7-6 win over the United States earlier in the day.
Swiss powerhouse Silvana Tirinzoni leads the standings with eight consecutive victories, while hosts South Korea follow with seven wins. Sweden and reigning champions Canada have six wins each, while China, like Scotland, has five but with a game in hand.
Nerve-Wracking Encounter Against Japan
The match against Japan was anything but straightforward. Sayaka Yoshimura’s team gained the upper hand in the third end, scoring three points to take a 3-1 lead. Scotland fought back, blanking the ninth end to keep the hammer for the final end while trailing 5-4.
Rebecca Morrison delivered under pressure, executing a pinpoint draw with the last shot to claim two points and secure the victory. Jackson emphasized the importance of the win, calling it “absolutely massive” in their quest for play-off qualification.
Next Challenges on the Ice
Scotland faces a crucial three-game stretch to solidify their position:
- Thursday: A match against Turkey, who remain winless after eight games.
- Friday: A challenging double-header against Denmark (4-4 record) and China (5-3 record).
Given the competitiveness of the tournament, every game is critical. A strong finish in the round-robin phase could see Scotland not only secure a play-off spot but also strengthen Great Britain’s overall Olympic qualification hopes.
Olympic Qualification Implications
Beyond this championship, results here play a key role in Olympic qualification. The top eight nations in the Olympic rankings at the end of this event will automatically secure a spot at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Great Britain currently sits eighth in those standings, with Jackson and her team’s performance at last year’s World Championship proving instrumental. Another strong finish this year could be decisive in ensuring an Olympic berth.
