Olympic medal winning partners Eve Muirhead and Bobby Lammie made an excellent debut at the World Mixed Doubles Championships when they saw off England’s Anna and Ben Fowler 8-3 on the opening day of competition in Geneva.
Having earned their place at this event by beating reigning World champions and regular teammates Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat in the final of the Scottish Championship, Muirhead and Lammie started this event facing former colleagues in the Fowlers who were on the British Curling programme as mixed doubles specialists a few years ago. 
The first half of the match was close fought with the Scots edging ahead by stealing a shot at the second end to move into a 2-0 lead after they were forced to take a single at the opening end, only for the Fowlers to respond by registering the first multiple score of the match at the third to level things up.
Further tight play meant Muirhead and Lammie were again forced to settle for a single point at the fourth end to take a 3-2 lead into the midway break, but they upped the ante with a near perfectly played fifth end to pile the pressure onto Anna Fowler and when her attempt at a draw came up just short, they claimed a steal of three that put them in complete control.
“That was a really good, solid first game,” said Beijing gold medallist Muirhead.
“They are a good pair and it is their sixth time competing together at this event so it was always going to be a tough game.
“The turning point was that fifth end when we scored a big three and it settles the nerves to get the first game under the belt and try to figure out the ice and how it is running, so that’s a good start and we are looking forward to our two games tomorrow.”
For their coach Greg Drummond there was additional interest, since he had worked with the Fowlers during their time based in Stirling and he was impressed with the way they set about their business against two of the best players in the global game.
“It was a closely contested first four ends and credit to Anna and Ben, they made a lot of really important shots at the right time and asked the questions of Eve and Bobby,” he said.
“After we had the chance to speak to the team at the half time break they put a little more pressure on Team England in the fifth end and that led ultimately to a steal of three which really was the turning point of the game, but it was nice to see Anna and Ben compete on the world stage.
“I had the opportunity to work with them in the past and to see how they have progressed over the years is nice to see and a bit of a reflection of their time with the British Curling programme.
“I am sure they will go on to have a successful week, but our team with two Olympic medallists have that little bit of extra experience and really knew how to make the right shots at the right moments to get points on the board.” 
Scotland face Australia and the Czech Republic tomorrow.
Scotland Mixed Doubles Team
Eve Muirhead
Bobby Lammie
Broadcast games will be shown on The Curling Channel in partnership with Recast.
Monday 25 April - Scotland v Canada (TSN1/3, RDS)
Tuesday 26 April - Scotland v United States (Peacock and Olympic Channel)
Friday 29 April - Qualifier 1 (TSN1, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel). Qualifier 2 (TSN1, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel), Semi-final 1 (TSN1/4, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel), Semi-final 2 (TSN4, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel)
Saturday 30 April - Bronze medal game (TSN1, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel), Gold medal game (Swiss TV, TSN1, RDS, Peacock and Olympic Channel)
Schedule for World Mixed Doubles Championships 23-30 April – Geneva, Switzerland
Saturday 23 April
Scotland – England 8-3
Sunday 24 April
Scotland – Australia
Scotland – Czech Republic
Monday 25 April
Scotland - Canada
Tuesday 26 April
Scotland – Germany
Scotland - USA
Wednesday 27 April
Scotland - Hungary
Thursday 28 April
Scotland – Turkey
Scotland - Spain
Friday 29 April
Qualification game A2 – B3
Qualification game B2 – A3
Semi final B1-A2/B3
Semi final A1 – B2/A3
Saturday 30 April
Bronze medal game
Gold medal game
#curling #WMDCC2022
