Three Teams Remain Undefeated at Olympic Curling Qualifier in Aberdeen
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Germany, Czechia, and the Philippines are the last remaining undefeated teams after a compelling second day of competition at the Pre-Olympic Qualification Event 2025, held in Aberdeen, Scotland, on Wednesday, October 8. The event is crucial for teams vying for the final six spots in the Olympic Qualification Event scheduled for Canada in December, ultimately determining qualification for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Germany and Czechia Lead Women’s Standings
Germany’s women’s team, skipped by Kim, demonstrated dominance with back-to-back victories, defeating Mexico 12-3 and Lithuania 8-6 to achieve a perfect 3-0 record and claim the top position in the women’s round robin standings. Close behind is Czechia, also maintaining an unblemished record, though with a game in hand.
The Czechs showcased remarkable resilience in their opening match against Hungary, successfully rallying from a 3-6 deficit after five ends to secure a 9-8 victory. They continued their winning streak in the evening session, convincingly defeating Chinese Taipei 11-2.
Philippines Secure Men’s Top Spot with Thrilling Win
In the men’s event, the Philippines emerged victorious in a tightly contested match against New Zealand, winning 6-5 and becoming the sole team with a perfect record as they advance to day three of the Olympic qualifier. The match, anticipated as a clash between two previously undefeated teams, was level at 4-4 heading into the eighth end.
A pivotal moment occurred when New Zealand broke the deadlock after Philippines skip Marc Pfister’s attempt at a double take-out fell just short. While this gave New Zealand the lead, it strategically positioned the Philippines to retain the crucial last-stone advantage in the tenth end.
The final end saw a dramatic exchange. With two Filipino stones in scoring position, New Zealand’s Anton Hood attempted a challenging runback double to remove the Filipino rocks. When the attempt missed, Pfister capitalized, adding a third stone to the mix and forcing Hood to attempt the same difficult shot again. Despite his efforts, Hood could only remove one Filipino stone, leaving two for the score and securing the win for the Philippines.
Current Standings and Remaining Competition
The loss dropped New Zealand to a 2-1 record, tied with Poland, who defeated Australia 8-3 in the evening session. Australia and Chinese Taipei are still searching for their first wins in Aberdeen, while Austria and Denmark currently hold a 1-1 record.
A total of 14 teams – seven men and seven women – are competing in Aberdeen for the coveted six remaining spots in the final Olympic Qualification Event. A senior official stated that the stakes are incredibly high, as this event represents a critical step towards Milano Cortina 2026.
The action resumes tomorrow with two curling sessions, one in the morning and another in the late afternoon. Full results and the complete schedule are available [below].
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Milano Cortina Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Milan Cortina 2026.
