China posts split in opening matches of men's world curling championship

VICTORIA, Canada - China proved it will be no pushover at the World Men's Curling Championship Saturday as skip Liu Rui's rink battled hosts Canada to the final end before losing 7-6 to the defending champions.

In the evening game, China, the 27th ranked nation in the World Curling Tour order of merit, rebounded to beat the Czech Republic 12-6.

China's skip Liu Rui shouts to teammates during their game against Japan at the World Men's Curling Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, April 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Playing against Canada in the tournament's opening game in the British Columbia capital, China opened the scoring with a single point in the first end, before the hosts built up a 7-2 lead through seven ends. China then picked up two in eighth end and singles in the ninth and final end to make it close.

Canadian skip Brad Jacobs who was making his debut in the tournament, said his rink was able to take advantage of some misses by China and capitalized. The Ontario native added the three points Canada scored in the seventh end proved the difference.

"That just opened the game up so that we could run them out of rocks, which we're good at," said Jacobs, who is attempting to make it four consecutive wins for Canada at the championship. "We gave up a deuce (in the eighth to China) and then a steal, but still a simple shot to win the game. That three was huge to open the game up for us."

Lorne Hamblin, a Canadian who serves as China's co-coach, lamented his team's lost opportunities.

"We had a very good chance in the second to lay three, force (Jacobs) to one, and he ended up getting two," the Manitoba native told the Canadian Press. "But the Canadians put on a clinic. I was really pleased to see the guys come back and make him (Jacobs) throw his last shot, because that's what you want to do."

China led from the start against the Czechs, going up 3-0 through three ends before exploding for five in the seventh end to put the match out of reach.

China's Ba Dexin (R) and Zang Jialiang watch the line of the rock while sweeping during their game against Japan at the World Men's Curling Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, April 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

On Sunday, China meets undefeated Sweden in its only match of day two action.

Other games in draw one saw the Swedes beat Finland 7-6, while the Czechs topped Norway 8-5. Switzerland beat Russia 6-4. In draw two, Scotland beat Japan 7-5, the US thrashed Denmark 8-3 and Sweden beat Russia 6-5.

The world championships have significant meaning this year as the event is the final opportunity for teams to secure qualifying points for entry into next year's Sochi Olympics.

The format this week is round-robin play through Thursday with the top four teams advancing to the weekend playoffs.

Beijing will host next year's men's world curling championships, the first time it has been staged in a Pacific-Asia zone.

China skip Liu Rui delivers a rock during their game against Sweden at the World Men's Curling Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, March 31, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]