SCOTLAND’S team skippered by Bruce Mouat has won this year’s World Men’s Curling Championship after defeating hosts Canada, led by Brad Gushue, 9-3 on Sunday night. 

The Scots are current European champions and won silver at the Olympics, but this was their first world title since 2009.

They opened the game with the last stone advantage, blanking the first end. In the second, Mouat made a perfect double take-out for two points to build momentum and in a turn of events, Scotland then stole two points in the third end when Gushue’s final draw against three counters slid too far, giving Scotland an early 4-0 lead.

The Canadians were confined to a single point in the fourth end and Scotland scored another two points in the fifth to go 6-1 up, but Canada executed a hit and stay for two points in the sixth end to bring it back to 6-3. 

A blank by Scotland in the seventh end saw them carry the last stone into the eighth end, where Mouat hit a lone Canadian counter for a score of three. Canada then conceded the game, with Scotland winning the world title 9-3.

“[The crowd in Ottawa] has been cheering great shots all week. It has been an absolute pleasure to play in front of them. I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life, not only the world title but the atmosphere that was created in there,” Mouat said.

Scotland’s gold medal-winning team consisted of: Bruce Mouat (skip), Grant Hardie (third), Bobby Lammie (second), Hammy McMillan (lead), Kyle Waddell (alternate), Michael Goodfellow (coach).

Switzerland beat Italy 11-3 to take the bronze medal.