GB lose to Sweden in curling opener
Britain’s curlers opened their Olympic campaign with a 6-4 defeat by Sweden on Tuesday
As the reigning world champions, Murdoch’s team carry Britain’s best hopes of a gold medal in Vancouver but on Tuesday it was the 24-year-old Swedish skip, Niklas Edin, who was calling most of the shots.
Ahead after the second end, Edin remained in command throughout, stretching Sweden’s advantage to 5-2 as Murdoch misfired with a series of poor draws and a botched double take-out attempt in the sixth end.
Although Murdoch rallied to 5-4, he handed the match to the Swedes with another uncharacteristic error in the final end when he was too heavy with his last stone.
“Pretty much every championship I’ve been in I’ve lost the first game,” he said. “It’s the norm for us. It’s a long week here and the goal is to get to the semi-final. Whether that’s in first place or fourth place, I don’t care.”
Sweden, the youngest team in the tournament, have high hopes of a medal themselves after taking the European title in Aberdeen a few months ago and the evidence of Tuesday is that they could well prove the dark horses.