Sweden’s Niklas Edin secured his eighth men’s world curling championship by defeating Canada’s Matt Dunstone 9-6 on Saturday. Despite a disappointing 2-7 performance at the recent Olympics, Edin and his team, including Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, and Christoffer Sundgren, bounced back to claim the world title in Ogden, Utah.
In a dominant display, Edin’s team capitalized on the hammer to score two points four times, while limiting Dunstone to a pair of deuces. The Canadian team, comprising Dunstone, Colton Lott, E.J. Harnden, and Ryan Harnden, settled for the silver medal in their world championship debut in Utah.
Sweden, Canada, and Scotland all finished pool play with 10-2 records, but Sweden and Scotland edged out Canada in last-stone-draw rankings to advance higher. Dunstone staged comeback victories against Italy and Scotland in the playoffs, while Sweden secured a spot in the finals with a win over the United States.
In the end, Edin’s precision and team performance proved decisive, with Sweden curling at 90% accuracy compared to Canada’s 87%. Dunstone acknowledged the Swedish team’s prowess, stating they demonstrated why they are eight-time world champions.
In the bronze medal match, Scotland’s Ross Whyte defeated the U.S.’s John Shuster 11-6. E.J. Harnden, who tearfully embraced his brother Ryan after the game, bid farewell to competitive curling with a silver medal, adding to his impressive career achievements, including Olympic gold and multiple Canadian championships.
Furthermore, TSN’s Vic Rauter wrapped up his 40-year career as a curling broadcaster, marking the end of an era in the sport’s coverage.