Canada's Dunstone beats Italy's Spiller 9-7 to reach semis at men's curling worlds

Canada's Matt Dunstone delivers a stone during a quarterfinal match against Italy at the world men's curling championships on April 3, 2026, in Ogden, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

OGDEN — Canada’s Matt Dunstone defeated Italy’s Stefano Spiller 9-7 in a qualification game Friday at the world men’s curling championship.

Dunstone, who was down one point but had hammer in the 10th end, made a double-takeout to score three points for the victory.

“I’m so proud of the guys,” said Canada lead Ryan Harnden. “We battled, I thought we played really well, and what a beauty on the last one.”

Canada will play Scotland’s Ross Whyte in the semifinal later in the day at the Ice Sheet.

Spiller was heavy on a freeze attempt with his final throw. He was filling in at this event for veteran skip Joel Retornaz, who declined to play at the world championship.

After an opening blank, Dunstone’s Winnipeg-based team of Harnden, Colton Lott and E.J. Harnden were forced to draw for a single in the second end.

Italy took advantage of a Dunstone miss in the third end to make a tapback for three points. Each team forced the other to singles before the fifth-end break.

“The (guys) hung with me,” said Dunstone. “I was terrible in the first half of that game. We stuck with it and found a way to keep the deficit to two points at the half.”

Dunstone made a challenging in-off for a pair in the sixth end rather than an easier runback for a single. Italy later regained the lead in the ninth end with a single.

Sweden’s Niklas Edin earned the other direct berth to the final four. He’ll play the winner of the other qualification game between Switzerland’s Marco Hoesli and American John Shuster.

Medal games were scheduled for Saturday.