In a thrilling matchup at the LGT Women’s World Curling Championship, Canada’s Rachel Homan and her team handed Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni her first loss in the round-robin stage, securing a closely contested 7-6 victory at Uijeongbu Arena. This win not only shifted the balance in the championship but also solidified Canada’s position as a formidable competitor in the tournament.
The match, held on March 20, 2025, showcased impressive strategies from both teams, but Homan’s crew displayed exceptional resilience and skill. The Homan rink, which includes teammates Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes, took the lead early in the game, scoring a point in the second end. However, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle, with Tirinzoni momentarily pulling ahead as the teams exchanged scoring ends.
After five ends, Switzerland led 4-3, but the true turning point came in the eighth end when Tirinzoni and her team missed a significant opportunity. While tied at 4-4, they attempted to score four points with the hammer but managed to scrape by with just one. “The turning point was probably her miss for that four,” Homan reflected. “Honest to God, I don’t know if it was there. She squeaked the guard as much as she could, and I thought we put ours in almost a perfect spot.”
Canada promptly responded, scoring two points in the ninth end, which was crucial. Switzerland, needing to force an extra end, managed to score just one more point, which left the door open for Homan’s team to seal the match in the eleventh end. Homan delivered a vibrant performance, leading her team to a collective shooting percentage of 88%, compared to Switzerland’s 84%.
Following this pivotal win, Canada’s record improved to 7-2 and placed them in a three-way tie for second place alongside Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg and South Korea’s Eunji Gim. Meanwhile, Switzerland retains the top spot with an impressive record of 8-1. “I feel pretty proud that we’re able to represent Canada and get enough points to get to an Olympic spot,” Homan stated, highlighting the broader implications of this victory as it virtually guarantees Canada a spot in the women’s curling competition at the upcoming 2026 Olympics. Curling Canada corroborated this assertion, noting the significance of accumulating points for Olympic qualification.
The tournament context added to the excitement of the win, with the stakes high for teams competing for the top six spots out of a total of thirteen to advance to the weekend playoffs. The matchup was not only a revenge for Homan’s rink, who had previously lost out to Tirinzoni in significant games, but it also sets the stage for future confrontations between these two elite teams.
After the victory over Tirinzoni, Canada was scheduled to play against Japan’s Sayaka Yoshimura, who entered the match with a record of 3-6. Homan had previously split her games on March 18, losing to host South Korea 11-7, but bouncing back to defeat Norway 8-6 later that day.
The competitive atmosphere in Uijeongbu is palpable, with teams like China’s Rui Wang, currently in fifth place with a 5-3 record, closely contests alongside Scotland’s Sophie Jackson and Denmark’s Madeleine Dupont, who sit at 5-4. As the competition progresses, all eyes remain on the top performances leading up to the playoffs and potential Olympic qualifications.
In the grand scheme of the tournament, Homan’s victory against Tirinzoni not only boosts Canada’s morale but also underscores their unwavering determination to secure a medal in this prestigious international event. The excitement of the curling world championship continues as teams vie for supremacy, showcasing incredible talent, perseverance, and competitive spirit on the ice.
In summary, Rachel Homan’s exceptional performance against Silvana Tirinzoni not only represents a significant victory for Canada in the world curling championship but also binds the path forward toward Olympic glory, promising an exhilarating finish to the tournament.
