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World Curling Championships
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
| Sport | Curling |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1959 (men) 1979 (women) 2002 (mixed wheelchair) 2008 (mixed doubles) 2016 (mixed) 2022 (mixed doubles wheelchair) |
| No. of teams | 13 |
| Most recent champions |  Scotland (men)  Canada (women)  China (mixed wheelchair)  Italy (mixed doubles)  Sweden (mixed)  Japan (mixed doubles wheelchair) |
| Most titles | Canada (men: 36) Canada (women: 19)  Switzerland (mixed doubles: 7) |
The World Curling Championships are the annual world championships for curling, organized by the World Curling Federation and contested by national championship teams. There are men's, women's and mixed doubles championships, as well as men's and women's versions of junior and senior championships. There is also a world championship for wheelchair curling. The men's championship started in 1959, while the women's started in 1979. The mixed doubles championship was started in 2008. Since 2005, the men's and women's championships have been held in different venues, with Canada hosting one of the two championships every year: the men's championship in odd years, and the women's championship in even years. Canada has dominated both the men's and women's championships since their inception, although Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany (West Germany), Scotland, the United States, Norway and China have all won at least one championship.
History
[edit]The World Curling Championships began in 1959 as the Scotch Cup. The Scotch Cup was created by Toronto public relations executive and former sports journalist Stanley D. Houston on behalf of the Scotch Whisky Association, a client of Houston's agency Public Relations Services Limited, which was looking to generate increased North American exposure for its products.[citation needed] The first three Cups were contested between men's teams from Scotland and Canada. The United States joined the Scotch Cup in 1961, and Sweden also joined the next year. Canada won the first six world titles, of which the legendary rink skipped by Ernie Richardson earned four. The United States was the first country to break Canada's streak, winning their first world title in 1965. By 1967, Norway, Switzerland, France, and Germany were added to the Scotch Cup, and Scotland won their first title, while Canada finished without a medal for the first time. The tournament was renamed the Air Canada Silver Broom the year after that, and Canada strung together five consecutive world titles starting in that year.
In 1973, the competing field was expanded to ten teams, and Italy and Denmark were introduced to the world stage. Sweden, Switzerland, and Norway won their first titles in the following years, and Canada continued to win medals of all colours. In 1979, the first edition of the women's World Curling Championships was held. The championships were held separately from the men's championships for the first ten years. During this time, Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany won world titles.
Bronze medals were not awarded until 1985 for the women's tournament and 1986 for the men's tournament. Between 1989 and 1994, the bronze medal was shared by the semifinals losers.
Beginning in 1989, the men's and women's championships were held together. Norway won their first world women's title. In 1995, Ford Canada and the World Curling Federation reached an agreement to make Ford the sponsor of the World Curling Championships. Japan, the first nation from Asia to compete in the worlds, made their debut in 1990 at the women's championship, and later in 2000 at the men's championship. South Korea and China followed suit in the 2000s. Scotland won their first women's title in 2002, and the United States won their first women's title the next year.
In 2005, the men's and women's championships were separated, and an agreement was made between the World Curling Federation and the Canadian Curling Association that Canada would host one of the tournaments annually each year, all of which are title sponsored by Ford of Canada. Canada began a streak of top two finishes in the men's tournament, and China won their first world title in the women's tournament in 2009.
In 2008, a world championship for mixed doubles curling was created. Switzerland won the first world mixed doubles title, and proceeded to win four of the first five titles. Russia and Hungary won their first world curling titles in the mixed doubles championship, and New Zealand, France, Austria, and the Czech Republic won their first world curling medals.
In 2015, a world championship for mixed curling was created, replacing the European Mixed Curling Championship and supplanting the European Mixed and Canadian Mixed curling championships as the highest level of mixed curling in the world.[1]
In 2019, the World Qualification Event was introduced, to qualify the final two teams in the men's and women's championships.[2] A mixed doubles qualification event will also be added in the 2019–20 curling season, qualifying the final four teams of the twenty-team mixed doubles championship.[3]
In 2020, the men's, women's and mixed doubles championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5][6]
Tournament names
[edit]The World Curling Championships have been known by a number of different names over the years.
Men
- 1959–1967: Scotch Cup
- 1968–1985: Air Canada Silver Broom
- 1986–1988: IOC President's Cup (Hexagon)
- 1989–1990: WCF Championships
- 1991–1992: Canada Safeway World Curling Championship
- 1993–1994: WCF Championships
- 1995–2004: Ford World Curling Championship
- 2005–2017: Ford World Men's Curling Championship (odd years)
- 2006–2018: World Men's Curling Championship (even years)
- 2019: Pioneer Hi-Bred World Men's Curling Championship
- 2020–present: LGT World Men's Curling Championship (even years)
- 2021–present: BKT Tires & OK Tire World Men's Curling Championship (odd years)
Women
- 1979–1981: Royal Bank of Scotland World Curling Championships
- 1982: World Curling Championships
- 1983: Pioneer Life World Curling Championships
- 1984: World Curling Championships
- 1985: H&M World Curling Championships
- 1986–1990: World Curling Championships
- 1991–1992: Canada Safeway World Curling Championships
- 1993–1994: World Curling Championships
- 1995–2004: Ford World Curling Championships
- 2005–2017: World Women's Curling Championship (odd years)
- 2006–2018: Ford World Women's Curling Championship (even years)
- 2019–present: LGT World Women's Curling Championship (odd years)
- 2022–present: BKT Tires & OK Tire World Women's Curling Championship (even years)
Competition format
[edit]The first two world championships, held as competitions between Scotland and Canada, were held as five-game series between the two nations. Upon the addition of the United States in 1961, the format was changed to a double round robin preliminary round with a three-team knockout round at the conclusion of the round robin. The knockout round was removed for the next two championships. With the addition of more teams, a single round robin preliminary round with a four-team knockout round was implemented in 1971. The championships occurring from 1968 to 1970 included three-team knockout rounds instead of four-team knockout rounds. The knockout round format was adjusted from single-elimination to the Page playoff system in 2005.
In the championships held from 1971 to 1985, third place was awarded to either the team that lost in the semifinal of a three-team knockout round or the higher-seeded team among the losing teams of a four-team knockout round. A bronze medal game was added to the knockout round in 1986, but bronze medal games were not held from 1989 to 1994, during which bronze medals were awarded to the teams that lost in the semifinals.
Until 2017 format of the world championships used a twelve team round-robin preliminary round, after which the top four teams advance to a knockout round held using the Page playoff system.
Starting in 2018 there are 13 teams playing round-robin preliminary round with top six advancing to a single-elimination knockout with top two receiving bye to the semifinals.[7] This includes two teams from the Americas zone, eight from the European zone (via the European Curling Championships) and three from the Asia-Pacific zone (via the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships). For 2019, the number of teams from the Asia-Pacific zone will be reduced by one, and there will also be one less team from the zone of the bottom-placed team at the 2018 championships.[8] The two slots will be allocated to teams from the new World Qualification Event. The qualification event will have eight teams: the host country, one team from the Americas, two from Pacific-Asia, and four from Europe.
Championships
[edit]Men
[edit]
Women
[edit]Mixed
[edit]| Year | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze | 4th place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Bern |
 Norway |
Sweden |
China |
 Russia
|
| 2016 | Kazan[39] |
Russia |
Sweden |
Scotland |
 South Korea
|
| 2017 | Champéry[40] |
Scotland |
Canada |
 Czech Republic |
Norway
|
| 2018 | Kelowna |
Canada |
 Spain |
Russia |
Norway
|
| 2019 | Aberdeen |
Canada (2) |
 Germany |
Norway |
South Korea
|
| 2020 | Aberdeen |
Cancelled[41] | |||
| 2021 | Aberdeen |
Cancelled[42] | |||
| 2022 | Aberdeen[43] |
Canada (3) |
Scotland |
Switzerland |
Sweden
|
| 2023 | Aberdeen[44] |
Sweden |
Spain |
Canada |
Norway
|
| 2024 | Aberdeen |
Sweden (2) |
Japan |
Switzerland |
Spain
|
| 2025 | Not Held | Not Held | |||
Mixed doubles
[edit]
Wheelchair mixed team
[edit]| Year | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze | 4th place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Sursee |
Switzerland |
Canada |
Scotland |
Sweden
|
| 2004 | Sursee |
Scotland |
Switzerland |
Canada |
 England
|
| 2005 | Braehead |
Scotland (2) |
 Denmark |
Switzerland |
Sweden
|
| 2007 | Sollefteå |
Norway |
Switzerland |
Scotland |
Canada
|
| 2008 | Sursee |
Norway (2) |
South Korea |
 United States |
Canada
|
| 2009 | Vancouver |
Canada |
Sweden |
Germany |
United States
|
| 2011 | Prague |
Canada (2) |
Scotland |
Norway |
Russia
|
| 2012 | Chuncheon |
Russia |
South Korea |
China |
 Slovakia
|
| 2013 | Sochi |
Canada (3) |
Sweden |
China |
United States
|
| 2015 |  Lohja[52] |
Russia (2) |
China |
Finland |
Slovakia
|
| 2016 | Lucerne[53] |
Russia (3) |
Norway |
South Korea |
Switzerland
|
| 2017 | Gangneung[54] |
Norway (3) |
Russia |
Scotland |
China
|
| 2019 | Stirling[55] |
China |
Scotland |
South Korea |
Norway
|
| 2020 | Wetzikon[56] |
Russia (4) |
Canada |
Sweden |
China
|
| 2021 | Beijing[57] |
China (2) |
Sweden |
 RCF |
United States
|
| 2023 | Richmond[58] |
China (3) |
Canada |
Scotland |
Sweden
|
| 2024 | Gangneung[59] |
Norway (4) |
Canada |
China |
Sweden
|
| 2025 | Stevenston[60] |
China (4) |
South Korea |
Canada |
Slovakia
|
Wheelchair mixed doubles
[edit]| Year | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze | 4th place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Lohja[61] |
Sweden |
 Hungary |
Norway |
Italy
|
| 2023 | Richmond[58] |
 Latvia |
United States |
Canada |
China
|
| 2024 | Gangneung[59] |
South Korea |
China |
Italy |
Japan
|
| 2025 | Stevenston[60] |
Japan |
Scotland |
 Estonia |
South Korea
|
All-time medal table
[edit]As of 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 61 | 29 | 25 | 115 |
| 2 | Sweden | 25 | 27 | 17 | 69 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 21 | 14 | 20 | 55 |
| 4 | Scotland | 14 | 30 | 20 | 64 |
| 5 | Norway | 11 | 12 | 22 | 45 |
| 6 | Russia | 7 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
| 7 |  United States | 6 | 11 | 17 | 34 |
| 8 | China | 5 | 4 | 8 | 17 |
| 9 | Germany | 2 | 9 | 10 | 21 |
| 10 | Hungary | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Denmark | 1 | 4 | 7 | 12 |
| 12 | South Korea | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| 13 | Japan | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 14 | Italy | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 15 | Latvia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Spain | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 17 | Finland | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 18 | Estonia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 19 |  New Zealand | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | Czech Republic | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 France | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 22 |  Australia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Austria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (23 entries) | 159 | 159 | 170 | 488 | |
National championships
[edit]Men
[edit]
The Brier[62]
United States Men's Curling Championship
Scottish Men's Curling Championship
French Men's Curling Championship
Russian Curling Championships
Italian Curling Championship
Finnish Men's Curling Championship[63]
Danish Men's Curling Championship
Swiss Men's Curling Championship
New Zealand Men's Curling Championship
Swedish Men's Curling Championship
Japan Curling Championships
Latvian Men's Curling Championship
Norwegian Men's Curling Championship
Estonian Men's Curling Championship
Czech Men's Curling Championship
Korean Curling Championships
Women
[edit]- Scotties Tournament of Hearts
- United States Women's Curling Championship
- Scottish Women's Curling Championship
- French Women's Curling Championship
- Russian Curling Championships
- Italian Curling Championship
- Finnish Women's Curling Championship
- Danish Women's Curling Championship
- Swiss Women's Curling Championship
- Swedish Women's Curling Championship
- Japan Curling Championships
- Latvian Women's Curling Championship
- Estonian Women's Curling Championship
- Czech Women's Curling Championship
- Korean Curling Championships
See also
[edit]- Curse of LaBonte
- World Junior Curling Championships
- World Senior Curling Championships
- European Curling Championships
- Pan Continental Curling Championships
- Pacific-Asia Curling Championships
- Americas Challenge
- World Qualification Event
- World Curling Tour
- Collie Campbell Memorial Award
- Frances Brodie Award
References
[edit]- ^ "WCF Annual General Assembly 2014 - 7 September". World Curling Federation. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ^ "World Curling Championships to grow after Annual General Assembly". World Qualification Event. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ World Curling Federation (9 September 2018). "Resolutions put to the World Curling Annual General Assembly 2018". World Curling Federation. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ Au, Jeffrey (14 March 2020). "World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships 2020 cancelled in Kelowna, Canada". World Curling Association. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ^ "LGT World Men's Curling Championship 2020 cancelled in Glasgow, Scotland". World Curling Association. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ^ "World Women's Curling Championship 2020 cancelled in Prince George, Canada". World Curling Association. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ^ "World Curling Championships to grow after Annual General Assembly". World Curling Federation. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ PDF from [1]
- ^ "Victoria, Canada awarded 2013 Ford World Men's Curling Championship". 18 October 2011.
- ^ "WCF and CCA deal on future of World Championships in Canada". 8 August 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- ^ "World Men's Curling Championship returns to Basel, Switzerland in 2016". World Curling Federation. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ "Edmonton to host Ford World Men's Curling Championship 2017". World Curling Federation. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Fabulous Las Vegas awarded World Men's Curling Championship 2018". World Curling Federation. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ "Lethbridge to host 2019 World Men's Curling Championship". Curling Canada. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "Scotland awarded four international curling championships". World Curling Federation. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ The Canadian Press (14 March 2020). "Men's curling world championship in Scotland cancelled due to COVID-19". The Star. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "LGT World Men's Curling Championship 2020 cancelled in Glasgow, Scotland". World Curling Federation. World Curling Federation. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Curling Canada aims to hold series of events in hub city". 1 December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "LGT World Men's Curling Championship returns to Las Vegas". 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "2023 Worlds in Ottawa!". 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ "Schaffhausen, Switzerland to host World Men's Curling Championship 2024". World Curling Federation. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Moose Jaw, Canada to host BKT Tires World Men's Curling Championship 2025". World Curling Federation. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Ogden City, Utah to host LGT World Men's Curling Championship 2026". World Curling Federation. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ "Lethbridge Awarded 2012 WWCC". 6 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Riga Latvia to host World Women's Curling Championship 2013". Worldcurling.org. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ "WCF Annual General Assembly 2013". World Curling Federation. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ "Swift Current to host 2016 Ford World Women's Curling Championship". Canadian Curling Association. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ "China to host first World Women's Curling Championship". World Curling Federation. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- ^ "North Bay, Canada to host Ford World Women's Curling Championship 2018". Archived from the original on 7 December 2016.
- ^ "Silkeborg, Denmark to host World Women's Curling Championship 2019". World Curling Federation. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ "2020 World Women's Curling Championship to be played in Prince George, B.C." Canadian Curling Association. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ^ The Canadian Press (12 March 2020). "World Women's Curling Championship Cancelled". The Sports Network. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ "World Women's Curling Championship 2020 cancelled in Prince George, Canada". World Curling Federation. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ "World Women's Curling Championship 2022 returns to Prince George, Canada". World Curling Federation. 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Sandviken, Sweden to host the LGT World Women's Curling Championship 2023". 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada to host the World Women's Curling Championship 2024". World Curling Federation. 28 October 2022.
- ^ "Uijeongbu, Korea to host LGT World Women's Curling Championship 2025". World Curling Federation. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Calgary, Canada to host BKT Tires World Women's Curling Championship 2026". World Curling Federation. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Russia to host second World Mixed Curling Championship". World Curling Federation. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ^ "World Mixed Curling Championship 2017". World Curling Federation. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "World Mixed Curling Championship 2020 cancelled in Aberdeen, Scotland". World Curling Federation. 3 August 2020.
- ^ "World Mixed Curling Championship 2021 cancelled". 25 June 2021.
- ^ "World Mixed Curling Championship 2021 cancelled". 25 June 2021.
- ^ "World Mixed Curling Championship 2023 Live scores".
- ^ "Erzurum Turkey to host World Mixed Doubles Championship 2012". Worldcurling.org. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ "Fredericton to Stage 2013 World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships". Canadian Curling Association. 23 April 2012.
- ^ "Dumfries, Scotland to stage 2014 World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships". World Curling Federation. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ "WCF Annual General Assembly 2014 - 7 September". World Curling Federation. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ^ "Karlstad, Sweden to host World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships 2016". World Curling Federation. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
- ^ "Venue confirmed for World Mixed Doubles and Senior Curling Championships 2017". World Curling Federation. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ "Geneva to host World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships 2026". World Curling. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Lohja, Finland to host World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2015". World Curling Federation. 29 January 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- ^ "World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2016 to be held in Lucerne, Switzerland". World Curling Federation. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ "World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2017 News". World Curling Federation. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Scotland awarded four international curling championships". World Curling Federation. 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ "Wetzikon, Switzerland to host World Wheelchair Curling Championship 2020". World Curling Federation. 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 8 September 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Beijing 2022 test events replaced with adapted sports testing programme". World Curling Federation. 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Two World Wheelchair Championships awarded to Richmond, British Columbia, Canada". World Curling Federation. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b "World Wheelchair Championships awarded to Gangwon, Korea". World Curling Federation. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Stevenson, Scotland to host World Wheelchair Curling Championships 2025". World Curling Federation. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Inaugural World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship to be held in Lohja, Finland". World Curling Federation. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Curling's iconic Brier seeks corporate home". Sports Illustrated. The Curling News. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Finnish Championships - Past seasons". Curling.fi. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
External links
[edit]- "Championships Search". World Curling Federation. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
World Curling Championships
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Origins and early development
The World Curling Championships originated with the establishment of the Scotch Cup in 1959, the first men's world championship, initiated as a challenge series between the national champions of Scotland and Canada and organized under the auspices of what would become the International Curling Federation (ICF), founded in 1966 and later renamed the World Curling Federation.[1] The inaugural event was held in Scotland, featuring a five-game series won by Canada's Matt Baldwin rink, marking the beginning of international competition in the sport.[7] Canada quickly established dominance in the early years, securing victories in the first six editions from 1959 to 1964, with teams led by skips like Baldwin (1959), Ernie Richardson (1960, 1962), and Ron Northcott (1963, 1964).[1] This period saw gradual expansion, as the United States joined in 1961, followed by Sweden in 1962, Norway and Switzerland in 1964, France in 1966, and Germany in 1967, growing the field from two teams in 1959 to eight by 1967.[7] Scotland achieved its first win in 1967, with Chuck Hay's team defeating Canada in Perth, Scotland, in the final Scotch Cup.[1] In 1968, the event transitioned from the Scotch Cup to the Air Canada Silver Broom, sanctioned by the newly formed ICF as the official annual men's world championship, held in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, with eight participating nations.[1] This shift coincided with increased global interest in curling, including efforts toward Olympic recognition, and introduced bronze medal games to determine third place, enhancing the competitive structure.[7] Canada's Ron Northcott rink reclaimed the title in this inaugural Silver Broom, underscoring the nation's early supremacy.[1]Expansion to new disciplines
The expansion of the World Curling Championships to new disciplines began with the introduction of the World Junior Curling Championships in 1975 for men, followed by the women's junior event in 1988, providing opportunities for under-21 athletes and fostering the development of future stars in the sport. The women's event was introduced in 1979, marking a significant step toward gender inclusivity in international curling. The inaugural World Women's Curling Championship was held from March 17 to 23 in Perth, Scotland, featuring 11 teams drawn primarily from the previous year's European championships plus newcomers Canada and the United States. Switzerland's team, skipped by Gaby Casanova, won the gold medal by defeating Sweden 13-5 in the final, establishing an early benchmark for women's international competition under the World Curling Federation (then known as the International Curling Federation). Over the following decade, participation grew, with the field expanding to 12 teams by the mid-1980s to accommodate rising interest from additional nations, reflecting the sport's broadening global appeal.[8][9] Parallel to the women's growth, mixed curling events emerged as a key discipline, starting with unofficial international competitions in the mid-1970s. The European Mixed Curling Championship, launched in 2005, served as a de facto world event for mixed teams (two men and two women) until 2014, fostering development across Europe and beyond without full World Curling Federation sanctioning. Official recognition came later; the World Mixed Curling Championship debuted in 2015 in Bern, Switzerland, replacing the European format and expanding to include global qualifiers, with initial fields of around 12 teams. This shift formalized mixed curling's status, emphasizing balanced gender participation and drawing from the discipline's long-standing popularity in national play. Meanwhile, mixed doubles—a variant with one male and one female per team—gained traction as a distinct event starting in 2008, with the first World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship held in Vierumäki, Finland, where Switzerland claimed victory. Its rapid expansion was closely linked to Olympic integration, culminating in its debut as a full medal event at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics with eight teams, later growing to 10 in 2022. By the 2010s, major disciplines like mixed doubles had stabilized at 10-13 teams, promoting accessibility and strategic innovation in team dynamics. The World Senior Curling Championships were introduced in 2002 for curlers aged 50 and over, coinciding with the launch of the World Wheelchair Curling Championship in the same year, addressing para-sport inclusion within the championships framework. Wheelchair curling represented another pivotal expansion, with the first World Wheelchair Curling Championship taking place in January 2002 in Sursee, Switzerland, with eight teams competing in a mixed-team format adapted for athletes with physical disabilities, where delivery aids and seated play ensured parity with able-bodied rules. The host nation, Switzerland, won the inaugural title by edging Canada 7-6 in the final, highlighting the discipline's immediate competitiveness. This event followed a 2000 demonstration in Crans Montana, Switzerland, and paved the way for Paralympic recognition, as wheelchair curling debuted at the 2006 Torino Winter Paralympics with a mixed team of four. Subsequent growth included the introduction of a dedicated World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in 2022, aligning with broader para-curling efforts and expanding fields to 12 teams by the late 2010s across major events. By the 2010s, wheelchair disciplines had reached 12-13 teams in flagship championships, underscoring the World Curling Federation's commitment to inclusivity and integrating para-events fully into its portfolio, with qualification pathways tied to Paralympic cycles.[1][10]Organizational changes and naming
The World Curling organization was established in 1966 as the International Curling Federation (ICF) by representatives from six nations—Canada, France, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland—following the success of early international competitions.[7] Initially formed as a committee under the Royal Caledonian Curling Club to govern the sport globally, it adopted standardized rules and oversaw the expansion of events.[1] In 1990, the ICF was renamed the World Curling Federation (WCF) to reflect its growing international scope and to distinguish it from other sports federations.[1] The organization underwent another rebranding in 2024, becoming simply World Curling, aligning with a refreshed identity that emphasizes its role as the global governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport.[11] The tournament itself evolved in naming to mark its transition from a bilateral competition to a global championship. From 1959 to 1967, it was known as the Scotch Cup, an annual challenge series primarily hosted alternately by Canada and Scotland.[1] The 1968 edition, held in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada, introduced the Air Canada Silver Broom as the trophy and was officially sanctioned as the first World Curling Championship, expanding participation beyond the original challengers.[1] Subsequent naming incorporated sponsors, such as Ford from 1995 to 2017 for events hosted in Canada, reflecting commercial partnerships that supported the event's growth.[1] More recently, BKT Tires became the title sponsor for Canadian-hosted championships starting in 2023, branding them as the BKT Tires World Curling Championships through at least 2026.[12] Organizational shifts in the post-1970s era emphasized neutrality and inclusivity, moving away from the alternating host model of the Scotch Cup era toward selection of impartial venues worldwide to ensure fair competition.[1] This change facilitated broader participation, with events rotating across continents, including North America, Europe, and Asia, to accommodate growing membership from over 60 nations.[1] The championships also integrated into the Olympic cycle following curling's debut as a medal sport at the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, where World Curling Championships now serve as primary qualifiers, with top performers securing spots for national Olympic teams.[6] World Curling plays a central role in standardizing the sport's rules, publishing the official Rules of Curling document that governs gameplay, equipment, and competition standards across all levels, with annual updates to address technological and inclusivity needs.[13] The organization demonstrated adaptability during global disruptions, notably cancelling the 2020 men's, women's, mixed doubles, and senior championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that affected qualification pathways but prioritized health.[14] In response, the 2021 editions adopted a bio-secure "bubble" format in Calgary, Canada, limiting teams to 14 (instead of the usual 13) and implementing strict protocols like daily testing and isolated facilities to enable safe resumption amid ongoing restrictions.[15] By 2025, World Curling expanded digital broadcasting through the launch of the Curling Channel Season Pass, offering live streaming of over 600 games worldwide, and partnerships with Globecast and GlobalM for innovative global distribution, enhancing accessibility for international audiences.[16][17]Competition formats
General structure and rules
The World Curling Championships typically feature a field of 13 national teams for the men's and women's events, selected based on performances in preceding continental championships and host nation qualification.[18] These teams compete in a round-robin tournament, where each plays 12 games against the others, with standings determined by wins and losses.[19] In case of ties for playoff seeding, head-to-head results are used first, followed by the draw shot challenge measurement if necessary.[18] The top six teams from the round-robin advance to the playoffs, employing an extended Page playoff system introduced in 2005 to determine the medals.[18] The first- and second-seeded teams receive byes to the semifinals, while the third through sixth seeds play qualification games: third versus sixth and fourth versus fifth.[19] Winners of the qualification games advance to the semifinals to face the top two seeds, with the semifinal winners proceeding to the final and the losers competing for bronze.[19] This format ensures a balance between rewarding regular-season performance and providing competitive knockout stages. Each game follows standardized curling rules, consisting of 10 ends for men's and women's competitions (reduced to eight ends in mixed doubles and wheelchair events).[18] Teams comprise four players—lead, second, third (vice-skip), and skip—who deliver eight stones per end, alternating with the opposing team; mixed doubles uses two players (one male, one female).[18] Stones are delivered from stationary hacks using brooms or stabilizers for sweeping, with releases required before the hog line; wheelchair curling adapts delivery via a release device attached to the player's chair, allowing propulsion without standing.[18] The draw shot challenge assesses ice quality and serves as a tiebreaker, where teams measure the distance of their last stone's placement in a pre-event draw to the button (center of the house), averaging the eight stones' distances.[18] Representing their national curling associations, teams must consist of eligible players under World Curling Federation residency rules, with alternates permitted for substitutions.[18] Events generally span 10 to 12 days, encompassing practices, round-robin draws, and playoffs, hosted annually in varying international venues.[3] While the core structure applies across disciplines, variations exist in team size, end counts, and qualification paths specific to mixed, doubles, and wheelchair formats.[18]Variations across disciplines
The men's and women's World Curling Championships feature four-player teams, with each player delivering two stones per end over a scheduled 10 ends, following standard delivery methods where players slide from hacks and release stones before the hog line.[18] Sweeping is permitted by team members in front of the tee line to influence stone paths, adhering to rules that prohibit sweeping opponents' stones except behind the tee line.[18] These events maintain a full round-robin format among participating teams, typically 12 to 16, before advancing to playoffs.[18] In contrast, the World Mixed Curling Championship uses four-player teams composed of two men and two women, who must alternate deliveries by gender (male-female-male-female or female-male-female-male) to ensure balanced participation.[18] Games are shortened to 8 ends, while delivery and sweeping rules mirror those of the men's and women's events, promoting strategic gender alternation without altering core mechanics.[18] This discipline also employs a full round-robin structure, emphasizing team composition as a key variation.[18] Note that the 2025 edition was cancelled, with the event scheduled to return in 2026.[5] The World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship introduces a two-player format, with one man and one woman per team delivering five stones each per end—the first and last stones by the same player—over 8 ends, and includes pre-positioned stones at the start of each end to facilitate scoring opportunities.[18] Delivery follows standard rules, but sweeping is restricted to the delivering team, with both players eligible to sweep their own stones anywhere in front of the tee line, enhancing the fast-paced nature of the two-person game.[18] Unlike larger team events, this discipline often features 20 teams in a round-robin divided into groups, with top performers advancing.[20] Wheelchair disciplines adapt curling for athletes with impairments, using single mixed-gender teams and specialized delivery. In the World Wheelchair Curling Championship, four-player teams (mixed gender) deliver stones from stationary wheelchairs positioned between fixed lines on the ice, using either arm/hand pushes or delivery sticks, with no hacks or sliding allowed, and games consist of 8 ends.[18] Sweeping is entirely prohibited to accommodate the delivery method, shifting emphasis to precise placement over ice management.[18] Players are classified by impairment levels to ensure fair competition, typically involving 12 teams in a round-robin format.[18] The World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship further streamlines to two players (one man, one woman), delivering five stones each per 8-end game, with delivery rules identical to the team event—stationary wheelchair use via arm, hand, or stick, without any holding assistance except in limited cases.[18] No sweeping is permitted at any time, reinforcing reliance on delivery accuracy, and the event features around 20 teams grouped for round-robin play.[18]Junior and senior variations
The World Junior Curling Championships, for competitors under 21, follow a similar structure to the men's and women's events with four-player teams and 10 ends per game. As of 2025, each gender event featured 10 teams in a round-robin format, with the top four advancing to semifinals; expansions to 16 teams and 8 ends are planned starting in 2027.[5] The World Senior Curling Championships, for players over 50, also use four-player teams and 10 ends, typically with 10 to 12 teams per gender in a round-robin followed by playoffs, mirroring the main events but with age eligibility as the primary distinction.[21]Championships by discipline
Men's championship
The Men's World Curling Championship is an annual international tournament for men's teams, organized by the World Curling Federation and contested since 1959 as the premier event in the discipline. By 2025, it had reached its 66th edition, with competitions typically held in March or April and rotating among host nations. The 2025 event took place from March 29 to April 6 at the Matrix Energy Centre (formerly Temple Gardens Centre) in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.[22] Canada has dominated the championship, securing 36 gold medals as of 2025, far ahead of other nations and underscoring its historical strength in the sport. Scotland follows with 7 golds, including recent successes that highlight growing European competitiveness. Other strong performers include Sweden with 12 golds and Switzerland with 3, but no nation matches Canada's overall tally or consistency.[23] Key milestones include Scotland's 1967 victory in Perth, marking the first time a non-North American team won the title and breaking the early dominance of Canada and the United States. Canada holds the record for the longest winning streak, capturing five consecutive championships from 1968 to 1972 under skips Ron Northcott and Bruce Roberts. These achievements reflect the event's evolution from a primarily North American affair to a global competition.[23] In the 2025 final, Scotland's Team Mouat, skipped by Bruce Mouat, defeated Switzerland's Team Schwaller 5-4 in an extra end to claim gold, securing Scotland's seventh title and denying Switzerland a second straight podium top spot. The tournament field has expanded over time, growing from 8 teams in the 1970s and 1980s to the current 13-team format introduced in 2018, allowing broader international participation while maintaining a round-robin structure leading to playoffs.[22][5]Women's championship
The Women's World Curling Championship, organized by the World Curling Federation, was established in 1979 as the premier international competition for women's teams, held annually thereafter. The inaugural event took place in Perth, Scotland, where Switzerland's team, skipped by Gaby Casanova, claimed the gold medal in a tight competition among five nations.[7] This championship provided a dedicated platform for women's curling, separate from the men's event that began two decades earlier, fostering growth in participation and competitiveness globally. By 2025, the tournament reached its 46th edition, underscoring its enduring role in the sport's development. Canada has dominated the event, securing 19 gold medals as of 2025, ahead of Switzerland with 10 and Sweden with 8.[24] The 2025 edition, hosted at the Uijeongbu Indoor Ice Rink in Uijeongbu, South Korea, culminated in a gold medal victory for Canada's Rachel Homan rink, who defeated Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni team 7-3 in the final, marking Canada's second consecutive title.[25] This win highlighted ongoing Canadian excellence while affirming the event's status as a key qualifier for Olympic spots. Qualification for the championship typically occurs through national selection events, such as Canada's Scotties Tournament of Hearts.[26] A pivotal era for the women's championship arrived in the 1980s and 1990s with the rise of Scandinavian teams, challenging Canadian and Swiss dominance. Sweden's Elisabet Gustafson led her squad to four gold medals between 1992 and 1999, establishing Sweden as a powerhouse.[7] Norway also emerged prominently, capturing its first title in 1990 under skip Dordi Nordby, signaling broader European strength in the sport.[7] The field expanded to 13 teams in 2007, coinciding with the first hosting in Asia at Aomori, Japan, which broadened global representation and intensified competition.Mixed championship
The World Mixed Curling Championship is an annual international curling competition for mixed-gender teams of four players, consisting of two women and two men who alternate genders in the order of stones delivered. This format promotes gender balance within the team while maintaining the standard eight-stone ends and 10-end games typical of curling. Unlike mixed doubles, which features two-player teams and is an Olympic event, the mixed championship is non-Olympic and focuses on four-player dynamics with strategic positioning based on gender alternation. The discipline has roots in the 1970s through early national and regional mixed events, but the official world championship was established by the World Curling Federation in 2015 to provide a global stage beyond the previous European Mixed Curling Championship, which debuted in 2005.[27] The championship typically involves 10 to 12 teams selected via open entry from World Curling Member Associations, competing in a round-robin format where each team plays all others. The top four teams advance to semifinals and a gold medal game, with the third and fourth place teams contesting for bronze. Qualification emphasizes national champions or top performers from domestic mixed events, ensuring competitive balance. The event rotates hosts annually, often in autumn, to accommodate the curling season and allow broad participation from up to 36 nations in preliminary rounds when expanded fields are used.[2][28] Canada has dominated the championship since its inception, securing three gold medals—in 2018 in Kelowna (defeating Spain 6-2 in the final), 2019 in Aberdeen (edging Germany 6-5), and 2022 in Aberdeen (beating Scotland 7-4)—establishing them as the leading nation with a perfect 3-0 record in finals appeared. Other notable achievements include Norway's inaugural victory in 2015 in Bern (5-3 over Sweden), marking the event's launch with 36 participating associations, and Russia's 2016 title in Kazan (8-4 over Scotland). Scotland claimed gold in 2017 in Champéry (8-5 over Canada), showcasing European strength early on. Sweden emerged as a recent powerhouse, winning in 2023 (8-2 over Spain) and defending in 2024 (5-4 over Japan), both in Aberdeen. The 2025 edition was cancelled due to organizational challenges, with the competition scheduled to resume in 2026.[29][30][14][31][32][33][34]Mixed doubles championship
The World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship is an annual international tournament organized by the World Curling Federation, featuring teams composed of one male and one female player competing in the two-person mixed doubles discipline.[20] Established in 2008 as the first dedicated world championship for this format, it has grown to include 20 qualified teams from member associations, reflecting the sport's increasing global reach.[20] The event's format consists of eight ends per game, with each team delivering five stones per end, and incorporates a unique power play rule that allows the team with the last stone draw once per game to strategically position two stones along the side of the sheet rather than the center, enhancing tactical options.[18] The inaugural championship took place from March 8 to 16, 2008, in Vierumäki, Finland, where Switzerland's Irene Schori and Toni Müller defeated the host nation 5-4 in the final to claim the first gold medals.[35] The competition's expansion and popularity surged in the lead-up to its debut as an Olympic discipline at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, where mixed doubles was introduced to diversify the curling program and promote gender-balanced teams. This Olympic integration has elevated the championship's status, serving as a primary qualification pathway for the Winter Games.[36] Canada leads the all-time gold medal count with nine titles, followed by Sweden with five, underscoring the dominance of these nations in the discipline.[37] The 2025 edition, held from April 26 to May 3 at Willie O'Ree Place in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, culminated in Italy's first-ever victory, as Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner defeated Scotland's Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat 9-4 in the gold-medal final.[38][39]Wheelchair championships
The World Wheelchair Curling Championships encompass two primary formats: the mixed team event, held annually since 2002 with typically 8 to 12 teams competing, and the mixed doubles event, introduced in 2022 as an open-entry competition that has grown to include up to 21 teams.[1][40] These championships serve as key qualifiers for the Paralympic Winter Games, where wheelchair curling debuted as a mixed team discipline in 2006 at Torino.[41] The sport adapts traditional curling for athletes with lower-limb impairments, emphasizing precision from a stationary wheelchair position, with no sweeping allowed to ensure fairness across diverse mobility levels.[18] Athletes must meet minimum impairment criteria, primarily involving significant limitations in lower-limb function due to conditions such as limb deficiency, impaired muscle power (less than 40% residual strength in legs), restricted range of motion (at least 50% loss across major joints), hypertonia, or ataxia affecting gait and balance on ice.[42] All participants fall under a single sport class, assessed through standardized tests like manual muscle testing and the University of Utah coordination battery to confirm eligibility without subclass divisions.[42] Deliveries occur via hand release or a conforming delivery stick—a pole with a stone-holding bracket that enables propulsion from the wheelchair, limited to four per team (two in mixed doubles) and requiring straight-line release at the hog line.[18][43] In the mixed team format, games consist of 8 ends, with each of the four players (plus an alternate) delivering two stones per end for a total of 16 per team, scored by the number of stones closest to the button after all deliveries.[44] The mixed doubles variant mirrors this structure but features two players per team who alternate delivering 5 stones per end over 8 ends (40 stones total per team), promoting faster play and strategic power plays.[45] Canada dominates the team event with 5 gold medals (2004, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013), underscoring its early leadership in the discipline.[46] In mixed doubles, emerging nations have shown rapid progress; for instance, Norway secured bronze in the inaugural 2022 edition, while Latvia claimed gold in 2023.[47] The 2025 championships, both held in Stevenston, Scotland, highlighted global expansion, with the team event featuring 12 nations and mixed doubles drawing 21 entries, including debut wins for developing programs like Brazil in preliminary rounds.[10][40] China captured the team gold with a victory over South Korea in the final, following Norway's victory in 2024 and marking their second title since 2023 and reinforcing Asia's rising prominence.[48] Japan earned the mixed doubles crown, defeating Scotland 11-2, as part of broader efforts to boost participation from underrepresented regions ahead of the 2026 Paralympics, where mixed doubles will debut.[40][49]Statistics and records
All-time medal tables
The all-time medal tables for the World Curling Championships aggregate the performance of national teams across all disciplines, including men's, women's, mixed, mixed doubles, and wheelchair events, from their respective inceptions through the 2025 championships. Canada holds a commanding lead in the overall standings, reflecting its historical dominance in the sport. These tables are based on official results from the World Curling Federation and highlight the cumulative achievements as of November 2025.[50]Overall Medal Table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 60 | 30 | 27 | 117 |
| 2 | Sweden | 25 | 18 | 23 | 66 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 21 | 16 | 23 | 60 |
| 4 | Scotland | 14 | 25 | 15 | 54 |
| 5 | United States | 9 | 10 | 11 | 30 |
Men's Championship
Canada leads the men's discipline with 36 gold medals, 14 silvers, and 9 bronzes, totaling 59 medals. This dominance underscores Canada's consistent excellence since the event's start in 1959. Scotland secured their seventh gold in the 2025 championship with a 5-4 victory over Switzerland. The table below shows the top nations as of 2025.[22][50]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 36 | 14 | 9 | 59 |
| 2 | Sweden | 12 | 8 | 7 | 27 |
| 3 | Scotland | 7 | 21 | 9 | 37 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 6 | 9 | 10 | 25 |
| 5 | United States | 5 | 6 | 5 | 16 |
Women's Championship
In the women's championship, inaugurated in 1979, Canada tops the medal count with 19 golds, 8 silvers, and 11 bronzes, for a total of 38 medals. Switzerland and Sweden are the closest competitors, each with multiple golds. Canada added a gold in the 2025 event with a 7-3 win over Switzerland, reinforcing their lead; China won bronze.[25][52]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 19 | 8 | 11 | 38 |
| 2 | Switzerland | 12 | 10 | 6 | 28 |
| 3 | Sweden | 8 | 9 | 8 | 25 |
| 4 | Scotland | 3 | 6 | 6 | 15 |
| 5 | Denmark | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
Mixed Championship
The mixed championship, held from 1979 to 2015, saw Canada claim the most golds with 12, establishing them as the leading nation in this discipline. Sweden follows with 5 golds. No events have occurred since 2015, so the medal counts remain static.[53]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 12 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| 2 | Sweden | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 3 | Scotland | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| 4 | United States | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Mixed Doubles Championship
Since its introduction in 2008, the mixed doubles event has been won most frequently by Canada with 7 golds. Italy earned their first gold in 2025, defeating Scotland 9-4 in the final; Australia claimed bronze for their first medal. Switzerland has 6 golds, tying for second.[38][54]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 2 | Switzerland | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Sweden | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | Hungary | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Italy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |