VIERUMAKI – Canada edged Hungary in a brilliant tiebreaker match to advance to the next qualifying round at the 2008 World Mixed Doubles Championship.

It was the second time the Canadians faced Hungary in the past 24 hours, with the Hungarians winning the previous match 6-4.

Up 4-3 and with last rock advantage in the final end, Canada ran into trouble and Dean Ross was forced to throw three consecutive bullet runbacks in an attempt to clear two Hungarian counters from the four-foot rings. He largely succeeded, and partner Susan O'Connor had a short double-takeout of her own to win the match, but only removed one counter.

In the extra-end, the placer stone located just behind the button stayed in play throughout the end, and when Hungary failed to access the button on Ildiko Szekeres' tap attempt, the Canadians had scored three for a 7-4 victory. 

Unlike the majority of round-robin games, the scoreboard was tight up to the extra-end. In the opening frame Canada just missed a chance at four points, and settled for one. The teams traded singles right up to the eighth end.

"If you scored that game you'd see some of the highest numbers in the whole event," said Ross.

Hungary's Gyorgy Nagy agreed.

"Both teams were really focussed," said Nagy. "Normally if two good teams are focussed and play really well, the scoreboard stays low. Maybe some are surprised this can also happen with Mixed Doubles."

"I don't look like a happy girl right now, but I am," said Szekeres. "It was a very good game and to be beat Canada before and be close now means a lot."

Nagy confirmed the Hungarians will continue to apply themselves in training for the new curling discipline.

"Our plan is to get to 2014 (Olympics), if there is a chance (for the discipline) to be there."

Both squads had tied with Sweden at 5-2 in their pool. The Swedes are through to the Saturday's semifinals based on their score in the Draw Shot Challenge, while Canada moves on to face the Czech Republic on Friday morning. The winner then faces hosts Finland for the fourth and final berth into the semifinals, and a date with Sweden.

The top two teams, Switzerland and Norway, will battle in the other semifinal Saturday night.

The Finnish Curling Association is posting live results online of both Championships. The World Mixed Doubles results are available at: curling.fi/en/competitions/leagues/2688  

... and the World Seniors can be viewed at:

curling.fi/en/competitions/leagues/2687

In addition, results are mirrored on the World Curling Federation website at: results.worldcurling.org

The host websites for the Championships are: wmdcc2008.com (World Mixed Doubles) and: www.wscc2008.com (World Seniors).