Mathematical Eve Muirhead navigates Olympic permutations to steer Team GB into seismic medal showdown

Eve Muirhead guided Team GB through a phalanx of permutations and into the Olympic semi-finals, dramatically guaranteeing a shot at a medal.

Britain needed to beat the Russian Olympic Committee to give themselves a chance and hope Switzerland beat Japan and Sweden beat South Korea.

They downed Russia 9-4 and watched on nervously as the Swiss prevailed 9-4 and then Sweden held off South Korea's 'Garlic Girls' 8-4.

Muirhead’s rink squeaked through thanks to the Draw Shot Challenge - curling’s equivalent of goal difference - an average score taken from single stones thrown before all nine round robin games.

Britain's draw shot score was 10 centimetres better than Canada's and one centimetre better than Japan's, sending Muirhead through in third, Japan fourth and knocking Canada out.

Nails were bitten to the bone by Muirhead, Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds and Hailey Duff who now face Sweden in Friday night’s semi-finals.

“I'll be honest, I was following the other matches,” said Muirhead, who found out her ultimate fate on a TV screen in the post-match interview area.

“I knew that our job was to win and that was our first priority, but it’s very hard to concentrate fully and I had one eye looking across at the games.

“I hope I didn’t show it! You’ve got to keep an eye out when you know you’re either in or out.”

The quartet also benefited from the draw shot challenge at the Olympic qualifier in December, where they sealed their spot at the Games at the last possible opportunity.

Having missed out on the first six qualifying spots at last year’s World Championships, Muirhead has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround in her team who will now at least play for bronze.

“This team has a lot of resilience,” she said.

“We've come from