Scotland got off to the perfect start when they edged out reigning Paralympic Champions China in their opening match of the World Wheelchair Curling Championships at the Auchenharvie Leisure Centre in Stevenston.
With qualifying points for next year’s Paralympics in Milan-Cortina also on the line, the host nation quartet of Hugh Nibloe, Gary Smith, Austin McKenzie and Jo Butterfield were keen to set the tone for the week and they clinched their 3-2 win with a steal at the final end of a low-scoring, hard fought battle.
Starting with last stone advantage, they had opened the scoring at the first end before, after consecutive blanked ends, their opponents levelled things heading into the midway break.
On the resumption, yet another blanked end was followed by what looked like a crucial steal by the Chinese at the sixth. 
However, the Scots levelled the match once again at the seventh, before sound tactical advice from the bench and patience was rewarded, with skip Nibloe paying particular tribute to the way his third, Gary Smith, set up the opportunity for him to win the match.
“It was one of the lowest scoring games I have ever been involved in, so going into the last it was 2-2 and I usually go really, really, really hard for a steal but the coaches told me not to go too hard and we managed to get a couple of stones in good places,” he explained.
“I thought Gary was phenomenal and put one up tight three and then I managed to get one round.
“China tried to play a shot and it caught Gary’s guard and I got to put a guard back in place and forced them to draw the four foot and they caught the guard on the way through which was really good to see.”
As the most experienced member of the team Nibloe, who was part of the silver medal winning rink the last time Scotland hosted the Worlds in Stirling in 2019, was able to put the win in a broader perspective for his colleagues.
“It’s a brilliant start to the home Worlds,” he said.
“The mood in our camp was good, but with some new faces in the line-up, that has really helped our self belief and it has been about setting a standard for the rest of the week and we need to play at that level in every game.
“It felt really good getting that win in front of a home crowd and hearing the cheering at the end.
“China are probably the side I have beaten the least in my curling career and they are fantastically consistent, so getting a win against a side we don’t meet that often was even sweeter.
“We knew coming into this tournament that they are likely to be there or thereabouts at the end of the week, so that has given us confidence and the atmosphere in the venue was really good.
“Seeing friends and family watching really helped the camaraderie and getting congratulated by them when we came off the ice really helps.
“That carried us through in 2019 in Stirling and I am hopeful that support will do the same this time.”
He knows, however, that it is just one win in what will be a long week and that they will be challenged again when they meet another Asian team in their second match
“Japan had a really good win against Sweden and they have come out of the B Championships and it looks like they have carried that form on,” said Nibloe. 
“It looks like they are really going for it at these Champs because they have an outside chance for Milan, so we need to make sure that we maintain a good level for tomorrow as it is key and it would be really nice to carry that momentum forward.”
As the only remaining member of the team that reached the 2019 World Championship final, Nibloe was fulsome in his praise of the newcomers to the squad who are aiming to make their mark this week.
“They have brought a fresh impetus and have slotted in well in this environment and I am sure they will thrive on the back of this first win together,” he said.
“I am delighted that Austin has got his first cap and I hope Keith (Gray, their fifth player) gets the chance to get his by the end of this competition as they have worked really hard for this.”
Their British Curling colleagues representing England meanwhile competed well on the opening day but suffered considerable frustration, particularly in their second match when they were beaten by reigning World Champions Norway at an extra end.
Having lost their opener 8-5 to Latvia, Stewart Pimblett, Jason Kean, Julian Mattison and Karen Aspey opened superbly against the Norwegians, scoring two at the opening end, then stealing two more at the second.
They still looked to be control when they headed into the seventh and penultimate end with the hammer and last stone advantage, leading 5-3.
However, they then conceded a steal of three which let their opponents claim the lead for the first time and, while Pimblett held his nerve impressively by drawing the shot with his final stone of the eighth end to take the match into extra time, they were unable to bring about the steal they required and went down 8-6.
The World Championships four player team event runs from March 1-8 and will be followed by the Mixed Doubles from March 11-16.
Please click here for results
Watch LIVE streamed games on Curling Stadium Europe and The Curling Channel:
Feature games are as follows:
2nd March - Scotland v Japan - 09:30 
3rd March - Scotland v Korea - 14:30
4th March - Scotland v England - 19:30
5th March - Scotland v Italy - 14:30
6th March - England v Korea - 14:30
7th March - Qualifier - 10:00
7th March - Semi - 18:00
8th March - Bronze - 10:00
8th March - Gold - 14:30
Day One
Saturday 1 March
Scotland – China 3-2
England – Latvia 5-8
England – Norway (EE) 6-8
Scotland Team
Hugh Nibloe (skip)
Gary Smith
Austin McKenzie (vice skip)
Jo Butterfield
Keith Gray (alternate)
Scotland Mixed Doubles Team
Hugh Nibloe (skip)
Charlotte McKenna
Coaches:
Head Coach: Sheila Swan
Team Coach: Niall Ryder
England Team
Stewart Pimblett skip
Karen Aspey
Julian Mattison
Jason Kean
Jean Guild (alternate)
England Mixed Doubles Team
Stewart Pimblett skip
Karen Aspey
Coaches:
Head Coach: Tony Lenton
Coach: Rosemary Lenton
Coach: Luke Carson
For more information on our Paralympic Pathway Programme and opportunities please email: Cheryl.lappin@britishcurling.org.uk
Images: @tdf_photography3
