Canada's Gushue tops South Korea to remain atop Worlds

LAS VEGAS — A high playoff seed at the men's world curling championship could ease the grind for Brad Gushue's Canadian team.

That asset was still on the table for Gushue heading into the round robin's final day Friday.

Despite winning seven of nine games to be a frontrunner in Las Vegas, the tournament has felt like an uphill battle for a team playing for a third major title in as many months and different countries.

Gushue overcame slow starts to open with six straight wins in Vegas, but a five-point deficit after five ends against Korey Dropkin of the United States proved too deep a hole in a 10-6 loss Thursday morning.

"A tough loss but you know, we're still control our own destiny and we can still finish first place we win out," the Canadian skip said.

Canada (7-2) was to face Soo-Hyuk Kim of South Korea (5-4) in the evening draw.

The top six teams Friday advance to playoffs. The top two seeds gets byes to Saturday evening's semifinals with third to sixth playing off earlier that day to join them.

Sweden was 7-3, the United States 6-3, Scotland and Switzerland both 6-4 and Italy 5-4 heading into the evening draw.

Germany and Norway were even at 5-5 ahead of the Czech Republic (4-6), Finland (3-7), the Netherlands (2-7) and Denmark (1-8).

The medal games are Sunday at the Orleans Arena.

Gushue, third Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker out of St. John's, N.L., could use all the advantages a semifinal bye affords.

Mere days after earning Olympic bronze in Beijing in February, they headed to Lethbridge, Alta., for the Canadian men's championship.

They claimed their fourth Brier playing as a three-man team on the final playoff weekend. Nichols had to isolate with COVID-19.

In addition to the