Tirinzoni, Muskatewitz win gold at European Curling Championships
Switzerland’s Team Silvana Tirinzoni and Germany’s Team Marc Muskatewitz took the gold at the European Curling Championships in Lohja, Finland.
Tirinzoni successfully defended the women’s title after doubling up on Sweden’s Team Anna Hasselborg 8-4 during Saturday’s final.
Scotland’s Team Rebecca Morrison, skipped by Sophie Jackson, earned bronze with a 6-4 win Friday over Italy’s Team Stefania Constantini.
The team of Tirinzoni, Alina Pätz, Carole Howald and Selina Witschonke ran the table posting a perfect 9-0 record through round-robin play and beat Constantini 7-3 in the semifinal to reach the gold medal game.
Meanwhile, Muskatewitz upset four-time champ Scotland’s Team Bruce Mouat 9-7 in the men’s final Saturday.
Muskatewitz, Benjamin Kapp, Felix Messenzehl and Johannes Scheuerl earned Germany’s first men’s gold at the event in 20 years.
Norway’s Team Magnus Ramsfjell claimed the bronze in a 7-4 decision Friday against Switzerland’s Team Yannick Schwaller.
Team Mouat, ranked No. 1 in the world and a winner of back-to-back Grand Slam events, was on a hot streak going 8-1 in the round-robin portion and reaching the final with a 10-8 extra-end win over Schwaller in the semis.
While Mouat was clear at the top, there was a five-way tie in the standings for the final three playoff spots at 6-3 records. Muskatewitz, Ramsfjell and Schwaller advanced with reigning world champion Team Niklas Edin of Sweden’s and Italy’s Team Joël Retornaz eliminated.
Muskatewitz downed Ramsfjell 8-2 in the other semifinal.