Women’s Olympic Curling Permutations in Cortina

As the women’s Olympic fours curling competition grinds to its round robin conclusion, Anna Hasselborg and Team Sweden are relaxing in the Cortina countryside with a bye during the final draw, holding a 7-2 won/loss record. They are assured of first place based on their head-to-head win over Switzerland.

Silvana Tirinzoni and Co. won a close match with Denmark’s Madeleine Dupont and sit at 6-2. Trailing 4-3 with hammer heading into the final frame, the Swiss scored three without requiring the final stone from fourth Alina Paetz. 

If the Swiss lose to Tabitha Peterson’s USA (5-3) the playoff picture is clear and simple: a rematch between both teams (Peterson with hammer) while the winner of Korea and Canada advances to play Sweden.

A win by the Swiss team in their final Thursday game will secure hammer in the semifinal and dispatch the Peterson squad into several scenarios.

If Sophie Jackson and Great Britain (4-4) lose to Stefania Constantini and Italy, Peterson grabs fourth place and a date with Hasselborg while Canada or Korea face the Swiss. If Jackson wins, however, USA will drop from the playoffs completely.

How can you go from second to (headed) home? Here’s how…

If Canada defeats Korea, Rachel Homan moves into third place and Great Britain, USA and Korea tie with 5-4 records.  All three teams are 1-1 against each other so we move to Draw Shot Challenge (DSC). 

Jackson leads the field with 16.764 cm DSC. Korea is possibly within range at 20.064 while U.S.A. is above 37 cm and has no chance.

Should Korea defeat Canada, Great Britain is in a three-way tie with two opponents they defeated in the round robin (Canada and USA), and Jackson would advance to a semifinal against Hasselborg.

So, if Great Britain can cover the pin on their DSC ahead of their final game with Italy, a win combined with a win by Switzerland will send them into the playoffs and a chance for back-to-back gold medals for Great Britain in women’s fours.

GBR fourth thrower Rebecca Morrison after her last game: “I actually have no idea what we need to happen, so I'm just minding my own business at the moment.”

For Canadian fans, it’s simple. World No. 1 Rachel Homan must win against Gim Eun-ji’s Korea or she will fail to reach the semifinal in Olympic women’s fours for the second time. 

The Canadians have been building momentum after a shaky start but kept fans on edge in their last contest against Italy, needing a double by their skipper to hold Constantini to a game-tying three in the 10th end. 

Homan’s final draw in the extra appeared routine, until it wasn’t, as the rock fudged late and nearly curled too far.  

Gim Eun-ji and Korea can advance with a win over Canada and will know prior to the game if their DSC is good enough to break a possible tie with Great Britain. If so, they will be quietly cheering on Jackson while focusing their efforts against Canada.

In the other game, Sayaka Yoshimura and Japan will try to win a second game by defeating China, who sits at 3-5.