Mens Curling Final: GB beat Switzerland and set up Canada showdown

Great Britain defeated unbeaten Switzerland 8-5 to reach the mens curling final, guaranteeing Team GB a fourth medal at these Winter Olympics and setting up a Saturday final against Canada at 1: 05 PM ET.

Mens Curling Final: GB to face Canada

Bruce Mouat and his rink secured the win that moves them into the title match. The British quartet — the reigning world champions — have now guaranteed at least one Olympic medal and will play Canada in the final scheduled for 1: 05 PM ET on Saturday. With the mens curling final now set, the British side move from a rocky round-robin into a gold-medal opportunity; their place in the knockout rounds depended in part on an Italian loss earlier on Thursday morning.

Britain guarantees Olympic medal

The victory ensures Team GB a fourth medal at these Games, and the men are clear about upgrading the silver they won four years ago. The British rink had struggled at times in the group stage but arrived in the medal rounds battle‑tested after a strong performance against the United States. Earlier in the day, Britain’s women won their final round‑robin match 7-4, but that result did not produce advancement after another match finished in an extra end and left the overall qualification picture unchanged.

Key moments and outlook

The semi-final turned on a string of pivotal plays. Britain stole the sixth end when the Swiss vice-skip missed a hammer shot, and in the seventh Bruce Mouat executed an uncommon run-back triple takeout that deprived Switzerland of an expected big score. Britain added two in the following end and carried a 6-5 lead into the 10th before closing out the match 8-5. The Swiss side had been unbeaten in the round robin and initially adapted well to the ice, but Britain’s late precision swung the contest.

A separate on-ice mishap in the semi-final saw a Swiss player tumble against a Great Britain stone, an unusual incident noted during the game. Looking ahead, the final presents a straightforward schedule marker: Saturday at 1: 05 PM ET. If the British team reproduces the composure and shotmaking that decided the semi-final, they enter the final in a position to challenge for the top podium spot; if Canada maintains its own form, the title match will be tightly contested.

• Semi-final score: Great Britain 8, Switzerland 5.
• Final: Great Britain vs Canada, Saturday at 1: 05 PM ET.
• Britain guaranteed a fourth Olympic medal; women’s team eliminated despite a 7-4 win.