Photo: Canadian Press
SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND — Canadian Brad Gushue lost his first match at the World Men's Curling Championship on Monday, losing a 7-6 decision to Italy's Joel Retornaz at the IWC Arena.
Retornaz made an open par to the four-foot loop in an extra end for the victory. That left his top-ranked Italian team in a four-way draw with Canada, Germany and the United States, 3-1.
Joshu, from St John's, New Delhi, said he was on the rocks in the first half of the match.
“I switched it and took Geoff (Walker) and once I got it it was a completely different feeling,” he said. “One of the rocks was wrinkling more than the other. It was playing tricks on me and not letting me have confidence in where I was putting the broom.”
Sweden's Niklas Edin (5-0) and Scottish champion Bruce Mowatt (4-1) topped the quarter-final standings after seven draws. American John Schuster and German Mark Moskatewicz tied with Canada and Italy, 3-1.
In other matches in the afternoon, Sweden beat Norwegian Magnus Ramsville 10-8 in an extra end, Scotland beat New Zealander Anton Hood 8-2, and Swiss Jannik Schwaler scored an 8-5 win over Dutchman Wouter Gosgens.
Switzerland was just outside the six-team qualifier at 2-2. Norway, the Netherlands, Lukas Klima of the Czech Republic and Japan's Shinya Abe were next at 1-3.
Gushue was inactive at Monday evening's hearing. His team, consisting of Walker, third Mark Nicholls and second EJ Harnden, is scheduled to return on Tuesday morning against New Zealand (0-4).
Canada shot 90 percent on the day against the Italians, who finished at 87 percent.
The Italians were first on the board after Canada made a mistake in the second end. Gushue was heavy on the ice attempt and Retornaz converted the equalizer for the pair.
Canada was forced to the third end as Gushue tried to find his weight.
“I'm disappointed,” he said. “For me personally, I missed a couple of shots early that caused the two-and-one to swing. In the third, we had a little chance to get the deuce back and things came up light.”
Italy gave up the steal in the sixth end after missing several runs. This allowed Canada to collect three blocks in the four-foot ring.
Retornaz elected to take a double out and give up a single, tying the game.
Canada had a chance for three — and the win — in the 10th end, but Gushue's nose jab rolled too far and Retornaz followed with a double takeout. Gushue could only draw for two people and a tie.
“We just swept my first rock,” Joshu said. “If we hit it on the nose, we would have lied three, would have been buried, and he would have had to make a double play just to cut us off.” To two.
“It was a bit unfortunate and it was just a bit of a panic and over-sweep and Joel left an easy brace. We still had two goals, which is tough against these guys, but there were three there.”
The back-and-forth play continues through Friday night. The medal matches are scheduled for Sunday.
Canada last won gold in the event in 2017 when Gushue was victorious in Edmonton.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2024.
