Canada's Einarson wins 4th straight at women's curling world championships in Calgary

Kerri Einarson's curling team passed a tough test in the women's world championship to maintain an unbeaten record Monday in Calgary.

Einarson's foursome out of Manitoba's Gimli Curling Club was a 9-6 winner over Denmark's Madeleine Dupont, who was a tough out for the Canadians despite a reduced lineup of three players in the back half of the game.

"I knew it was going to be a great game," Einarson said. "They played phenomenal. Madeleine made some really great shots to force us.

"We played really well, too. It's good to have games like that, that test you and that make you make those clutch shots when you need them."

Canada improved to 4-0 and is the only undefeated team in the field of 13.

Turkey and Switzerland are both 4-1, after Switzerland defeated the former 8-5 in Monday evening's draw.

Japan is 3-1, Sweden improved to 3-2 after beating Australia 7-4 Monday night, and South Korea improved to 3-2 with a 7-5 extra-end win over the United States in the evening draw.

China and Scotland are both 2-3, Denmark, with an 11-7 loss to Scotland in the late draw, is also 2-3.

Italy is at 1-3, while Australia, the U.S. and Norway are all 1-4.

The top six teams at the conclusion of pool play Friday advance to the playoffs.

The top two earn direct entry into Saturday's semifinals. The medal games are Sunday.

Einarson had hammer coming home with the score 6-6. With three Canadian stones flanking the button, Dupont had little room to draw the pin.

When her attempt ticked on a Canadian stone and fell short, Einarson didn't have to throw her final rock.

Dupont is representing Denmark for the 17th time her career.

Her 17-year-old vice Katrine Schmidt, who throws second stones, left the game with illness after the fifth end when