Team Canada opens with win over Japan; Norway 2-0 at Ford Worlds

MONCTON, Canada(WCF) – After Draw Two play on Saturday night, Norway, skipped by Thomas Ulsrud, moved into first place at 2-0 at the 2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship with a quick 9-1 victory over Finland’s Kalle Kiiskinen.

 Leading 3-0 after three ends, the two-time world bronze medallist stole another two points in the fourth end and, following Finland’s lone point in the fifth, added a four-ender in the sixth.

 The Finns promptly conceded the match.

 “It’s a bit tricky ice out there,” said Ulsrud, who also won silver at December’s Le Gruyere European Championships.

 “This game, we were a big lucky to get the lead. It’s much easier to hit out there.

 In other matches, defending champions Canada earned their first win with a 7-4 victory over Japan’s world rookie Yusuke Morozumi.

 In a tentative match featuring tricky ice conditions, the Canadians broke open a 2-2 tie by scoring three in the fifth end. Kevin Martin’s team – back-to-back undefeated champions in their previous two domestic competitions – then turned on the jets and smashed their way to the finish line.

 “We didn’t take any chances,” said Martin, referring to the close early ends.

 “Luckily we go a bit of a lead by the fifth.

 “Japan is tough. Morozumi has had a big year on the Tour, and they’ve beaten a lot of big teams.”

 Martin was serenaded regularly b the boisterous home crowd. A favourite chant referred to his nickname, “Old Bear.”

 Elsewhere, Jiri Snitil of the Czech Republic sent Denmark’s Ulrik Schmidt tumbling to his second straight loss by a 9-4 count and France’s Thomas Dufour made a last-stone takeout to defeat China’s Fengchun Wang 7-5.

 In three draws of action on Sunday, highlight matches include Germany versus Switzerland (morning draw), China versus Japan (afternoon) and Canada taking on China (evening).

 Last year in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Martin’s only loss came to China.

 The 2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship is the final qualifying opportunity for Member Associations of the World Curling Federation (WCF) to secure berths into the curling competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

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