Sweden, Canada and Norway have become the first three nations to qualify for the playoff stage of the World Mixed Curling Championship after extending their unbeaten records on day four at Aberdeen in Scotland.
All three countries secured qualification after reaching the six-win mark at Curl Aberdeen and continue to top their respective groups.
Sweden head Group A with their line-up of Fanny Sjoeberg, Fredrik Carlsen, Jennie Waahlin and Johan Nygren recording two wins today, as they overcame Ireland 6-3 and later Scotland 8-3 to secure their progress.
Canada top Group B with their line-up of Emily Riley, Emile Asselin, Laurie St-Georges and Felix Asselin registering 6-3 wins over Poland and later New Zealand to advance.
Norway also reached the six-win mark and lead Group D, courtesy of their quartet of Eirin Mesloe, Andreas Haarstad, Maia Ramsfjell and Steffen Walstad.
Norway registered two comfortable victories today, overcoming Ukraine 12-3 and Czech Republic 7-1.
In Group C, Spain put themselves one game away from qualification to the playoff stage as they defeated the US 7-1 to register a fifth straight victory and remain top of the group.
Only one other team is still unbeaten and that is Switzerland, who sit second in Group D with four successive wins.
The Swiss play twice tomorrow and could secure a playoff place if they can beat both Slovakia and Latvia, the two teams immediately below them in the standings.
Four teams remain winless having lost their first five matches – Wales in Group A, Brazil and India, both in Group C and Nigeria in Group D.
Round-robin action continues tomorrow with the top three teams in each group at the end of this phase advancing to the playoff stage, which is due to take place on Friday (October 20).
Source: Inside The Games