Scotland kept their campaign alive at the World Men’s Curling Championship with back-to-back wins over Canada and the United States after a shaky start in Utah.
Led by skip Ross Whyte, the defending champions responded strongly following early defeats to Sweden and Japan. The victories have lifted their momentum, though they remain mid-table in the round-robin standings with work still to do.
Strong response after early setbacks
Scotland showed intent right from the start against hosts USA, skipping to an early lead and maintaining control throughout a composed 6-4 win. Their ability to score early proved decisive, allowing them to dictate the pace of the contest.
The turnaround had already begun with an impressive 8-3 victory over Canada, one of the tournament’s strongest sides. A crucial three-point haul in the fifth end opened up a commanding lead, effectively sealing the match before the closing stages.
Despite narrow losses in their opening games, Whyte’s rink had shown signs of competitiveness. Those performances translated into results as they found rhythm and confidence against higher-ranked opponents.
The current Scottish lineup — featuring Robin Brydone, Euan Kyle and Craig Waddell — is representing the nation in the absence of Bruce Mouat, last year’s title-winning skip who opted out after his Olympic campaign.
With several top-ranked teams missing from the competition, Scotland have an opportunity to push higher in the standings. However, consistency will be key as they look to secure a playoff spot.
Their next challenge comes against Poland, a lower-ranked side but one riding confidence after a historic win earlier in the tournament.
For Scotland, the equation is simple now — maintain this momentum or risk falling out of contention in a tightly packed field.
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