23 November 2024
Defending champions Switzerland took on Sweden for the women’s title at the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2024 on Saturday.
Switzerland had last-stone advantage in the first end, and capitalised on it, putting two on the board. Sweden skip Anna Hasselborg was forced to draw for one against three Swiss counters in the second, but could outscore only two with her shot, giving Switzerland a stolen point and a 3-0 lead.
Sweden blanked the third end and tried to generate a two-point end in fourth. However, Hasselborg’s last draw was slightly heavy and they needed to settle for one. 3-1 for Switzerland after four.
In the fifth, Swiss fourth player Alina Paetz made a hit-and-roll for two points and a 5-1 lead at the break.
In the sixth, Sweden put one on the board after a nose-hit by Hasselborg. In the seventh, Paetz tapped the Swedish counter out of the rings to score two and go up, 7-2.
In the eighth, Hasselborg made a hit for two to narrow the gap, 7-4. However, in the ninth, Alina Paetz made a hit-and-stay for one and an 8-4 lead. At this point, Sweden conceded the game and Switzerland defended their European title.
After the game, a delighted Silvana Tirinzoni said, “[I feel] amazing! No better feeling than winning a big championship. It’s actually a dream start to be three up, but then they’re gonna attack you for two hours. When you start to get nervous you have to be very careful, so they don’t come back. It was nerve-wrecking for two hours.”
The gold medal winning Swiss women’s team are skip and third Silvana Tirinzoni, fourth Alina Paetz, second Carole Howald and lead Selina Witschonke, supported by alternate Stefanie Berset and coach Pierre Charette.
The silver medal winning Swedish women’s team are skip Anna Hasselborg, third Sara McManus, second Agnes Knochenhauer and lead Sofia Mabergs, supported by alternate Johanna Heldin and coach Kristian Lindstroem.
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