World Women’s Curling: Scotland’s play-off hopes boosted by double win

Scotland followed a defeat of United States with an “absolutely massive” win over Japan to move up to sixth in the round robin table at the World Women’s Curling Championship in South Korea.

Sophie Jackson’s rink have five wins and four defeats with three games to go in the 13-team event as they look to secure the top-six place required to progress to the play-offs.

Silvana Tirinzoni’s Swiss, currently ranked two in the world, lead the standings with eight straight victories, with the hosts on seven wins and Sweden and holders and top seeds Canada on six each.

China are on five wins but have played one fewer game than the Scots.

After the 7-6 morning win in over Tabitha Peterson’s 31st-ranked USA, who are now down to 10th, the Scots were trailing Japan from the third end after Sayaka Yoshimura’s rink scored three to go 3-1 ahead.

However, the Scots blanked the ninth end to go into the decider 5-4 down but retain the hammer.

And Rebecca Morrison drew two with the final shot to secure the 6-5 victory that drops Japan, ranked 11 places above their opponents in eighth in the world, to ninth place.

Jackson said: “It was absolutely massive. It was kind of tricky at points, kind of to and fro, so really pleased to come out with two in the last end to get the win.”

Scotland face Dilsat Yildiz’s Turkey, who have lost all eight of their games so far, on Thursday before taking on Denmark, who have won four and lost four, and China on Friday.

The top eight nations in the Olympic standings at the end of the event are assured of their places at Milan/Cortina 2026.

Great Britain currently sit eighth after Jackson and her team’s showing at the 2024 World Championship.