Canada’s Einarson improves to 8-1, nears playoffs at world curling championship

Team Canada skip Kerri Einarson, right, speaks with her teammates lead Karlee Burgess, left, and second Shannon Birchard as they play Turkey at the World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary on March 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY — Canada’s Kerri Einarson closed in on a playoff berth at the women’s world curling championship with an 8-3 win Thursday morning over South Korea.

Einarson kept pace with Switzerland’s Xenia Schwaller atop the standings. Both countries were 8-1.

The top six teams in the 13-country field at the conclusion of pool play Friday advance to the playoffs.

The top two gain direct entry to Saturday’s semifinals. The remaining four square off earlier that day to join them. The medal games are Sunday.

“It’s easier if you get into that semifinal, but we don’t want to look too far ahead and just don’t need to put any more added pressure on ourselves,” Einarson said.

Japan (6-2), South Korea and Sweden (6-3), China and Turkey (5-4) and Italy (4-5) were also jockeying for berths.

Denmark and Scotland were 3-6, Norway 2-7 and Australia and the United States 1-8.

The Swiss doubled Norway 8-4, China defeated Turkey 10-5, and Italy was an 8-1 winner over Denmark in the morning draw.

Grinding it out

Einarson’s team out of Manitoba’s Gimli Curling Club played one of its most complete games of the tournament in a gruelling part of its schedule.

“I thought today was our best game as a whole, so we got to continue that going forward,” the Canadian skip said.

Einarson, third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Karlee Burgess were on their third straight day of split draws — playing in the morning and evening — which made for short sleeps.

The Canadians were to face Norway on Thursday night. They cap off pool play against Australia in the afternoon and Japan in the evening Friday.

Despite another tight turnaround, both Sweeting and Burgess logged extra practice immediately after Wednesday night’s win over Scotland.

Sweeting was annoyed when she completely missed back-to-back double takeout attempts against the Scots.

“Definitely saw an improvement,” Einarson said. “I think Kar just wanted to help them out with (rock) matching, and Val must have wanted to throw a few and get that feel back.

“She did a great job and came back and played really well today.”

The Canadians fought off fatigue Thursday morning and outcurled their South Korean counterparts at every position. Burgess posted 97 per cent shooting accuracy.

Einarson had her draw weight dialled in, while Eunji Gim — a 2024 world bronze medallist — struggled at barely 60 per cent.

Einarson and Sweeting made precise draws, and Gim missed a freeze in the fifth end, which Canada converted into a three-point end and a 6-2 lead.

“We made some good shots and put some rocks in really good spots and then made them make difficult shots,” Burgess said. “The pressure was on them, and we just felt comfortable.

“We were kind of a little tired this morning, so we just really wanted to bring the energy and positivity for today because it’s been a grind the last couple of days.

“Gim is a really good team, and they can go the full week. They’ve been here and done that, so it’s a huge win for us.”

The four women are chasing their first world title. Canada’s Rachel Homan won back-to-back gold in 2024 and 2025.

Einarson, Sweeting, Birchard and Briane Harris were bronze medallists in both 2022 and 2023.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2026.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press