World Men’s Curling Championships: Scotland lose to Sweden & Japan before Canada test

Scotland suffered 6-5 defeats by Sweden and Japan in their opening ties at the World Men’s Curling Championships in Utah.

Ross Whyte’s rink were edged out in the final end by the Swedish quartet led by Niklas Edin, a seven-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist from four years ago.

Whyte and his rink of Robin Brydone, Euan Kyle and Craig Waddell went 2-0 down after one end but hit back with three in the second to mark the start of a topsy-turvy encounter.

Scotland levelled the game at 5-5 again after eight ends when skip Whyte drew in for one, before Edin blanked the ninth to take the hammer into the last.

But when Sweden left Whyte a tricky takeout to promote his stone and he missed, they claimed one to win the match.

Against Japan, Scotland trailed 3-1 by the fourth end but levelled with a two at the fifth. The sides later traded twos and were tied going into the final end, with Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi’s rink getting the decisive point.

Scotland are defending the title won by Bruce Mouat’s rink last year.

Mouat’s team elected not to compete in this edition after earning a silver medal for Great Britain at the Olympics in Cortina last month.

Whyte and his team are next in action against Olympic champions Canada at 20:00 GMT on Saturday.