Scotland are still on the hunt for their first win at the SD Biosensor World Wheelchair Championships after losing out 6-3 to Italy in their only game of the second day at the Gangneung Curling Centre (2-9 March).
The Scots started well and made last stone advantage count with a two at the opening end but a strong Italian quartet scored at the next five ends and while Scotland got back on the scoreboard at the seventh, a single was not enough to reduce their opponents’ unassailable lead.
“We knew coming into this game that Italy were going to be strong,” said skip Hugh Nibloe.
“They had a good performance in their first game and they beat us last time at the World Champs, so we knew we were in for a difficult game.
“You can see with the Paralympics coming up in 2026 the Italian side is obviously working very hard to be a force at those Games. 
“Their take-outs were very accurate but I think their skip really made it tough for us, he nailed some really great shots and also made it difficult for us to score.
“I don’t think the scoreline necessarily resembled the game itself and the four of us made some good shots, but we didn’t make some of those at the key times and it was a tough one to take but we have to move on from it.
“We have been working all season on keeping the focus right until the end and keeping the support in the team, so we had the belief that we could keep the good shots coming but it didn’t work out like that in the second half.
“We are fighting together for the same thing and head into our next game with that spirit and a busy schedule over the next four days.”
The Scots have a two game day tomorrow, facing hosts Korea and Czechia later in the day and wins on day three could help them build momentum for the remainder of the tournament.
“We face Korea tomorrow who got their first win today against Sweden.
“I think they have been inspired by their home crowd but we have played them before and they are not unbeatable.
“We probably played our best game against them last year in the Worlds quarter final, so it would be nice to replicate that and get that first win and get our campaign up and running.”
The team event is followed by the World Mixed Doubles Championships which starts on Monday 11 March until Thursday 14 March, with home nations Scotland and England in a field of 21 teams representing their national Member Associations.
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Please click here for more event information.
Please click here for results.
Scotland Team
Hugh Nibloe
Gregor Ewan
Robert McPherson
Meggan Dawson Farrell
Gary Smith (alternate)
Team Leader David Leith
Team Coach Luke Carson
Scotland Mixed Doubles Team
Charlotte McKenna
Gary Smith
Team Coach Niall Ryder
England Mixed Doubles Team
Stewart Pimblett
Karen Aspey
Team Coach Tony Lenton
Assistant Coach Rosemary Lenton
Schedule
Saturday 2 March
Session 1 – 5am (GMT)
Scotland – Latvia 5 - 6
Session 2 -10am (GMT)
Scotland – Norway 5 – 6 (EE)
Sunday 3 March
Session 4 – 5am (GMT)
Scotland – Italy 3-6
Monday 4 March
Session 6 – 12 midnight (GMT)
Scotland – Korea
Session 8 – 10am (GMT)
Scotland – Czechia
Tuesday 5 March
Session 9 - 12 midnight (GMT)
Scotland – USA
Session 11 – 10am (GMT)
Scotland – Canada
Wednesday 6 March
Session 13 – 5am (GMT)
Scotland – Estonia
Session 14 – 10am (GMT)
Scotland – Sweden
Thursday 7 March
Session 15 – 12 midnight (GMT)
Scotland – Slovakia
Session 16 – 5am (GMT)
Scotland – China
Friday 8 March
Qualifications – 5am (GMT)
Semi Finals – 10am (GMT)
Saturday 9 March
Final – 2am (GMT)
Image: WCF
