The men’s curling competition at the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026 is heating up as teams battle for playoff spots. In a decisive match on Wednesday, Great Britain showcased their skills with a commanding 9-2 victory over the United States in just six ends during the eleventh round-robin session.
Great Britain’s skip, Bruce Mouat, set the tone early by executing a double take-out in the first end, which left the United States facing difficulty. Despite having the hammer, the American skip, Daniel Casper, could only remove one of Great Britain’s stones after a challenging shot, leading to an early point for the British team. The second end saw Casper miss an opportunity to score, as Great Britain capitalized on the situation, stealing another point and extending their lead.
The match turned dramatically in the third end when Great Britain managed to steal a whopping four points, bringing the score to 6-0. A blanked fourth end allowed the United States to finally get on the board in the fifth, scoring two points. Nonetheless, in the sixth end, Mouat’s precision led Great Britain to score three more points, prompting the United States to concede and securing Great Britain’s place as a formidable contender.
Reflecting on the game, Mouat expressed relief at finally receiving some favorable breaks after previously struggling in the tournament. He acknowledged the tension of having to wait for results from other matches to determine their semi-final fate, admitting it was a bittersweet experience.
In another key matchup, Canada faced Italy, emerging victorious with an 8-3 score after a seven-end game. The Canadians took control after initially struggling and secured their place in the playoffs as the second seed. Skip Brad Jacobs praised his team’s ability to regroup and work collaboratively to adapt to the challenging playing conditions.
Switzerland also continued their winning streak, achieving their eighth consecutive victory against Norway, thereby confirming their top seed for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Czechia secured a much-needed win against the People’s Republic of China, marking their second win of the tournament.
As the tournament approaches its climax, Great Britain currently sits in third place in the standings, with both Italy and Norway closely trailing. The final round-robin games are set to determine which teams will join Switzerland and Canada in the semi-finals, and the excitement continues to build within the curling community. Fans are encouraged to follow live scores and updates, as well as join the growing World Curling community on social media platforms.