Canada's skip Jeff Stoughton (R) reacts to third Jon Mead during play against Scotland at the World Men's Curling Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan April 5, 2011. (REUTERS/Andy Clark)
REGINA — Canada remained undefeated and all alone in first place at the world men’s curling championship on Wednesday morning after dumping the Czech Republic 9-4.
Jeff Stoughton’s Winnipeg foursome improved to 8-0 to move a game and a half up on second-place Tom Brewster of Scotland (6-1).
Canada battles Sweden’s Niklas Edin (5-2) on Wednesday afternoon. A win would all but guarantee a spot in Friday’s playoff game for the three-time Brier champ.
Stoughton notched four in the third end against Jiri Snitil to take a 5-1 lead and then stole singles in the eighth and ninth to seal the deal.
“It was a pretty good game,” Stoughton said. “I missed a couple shots there that I would like back, but the guys had great setups and we got the win. That’s all that matters.”
In other Draw 12 play, France’s Thomas Dufour upped his record to 6-2 with an 8-7 triumph over Switzerland’s Christof Schwaller, who fell to 5-3.
Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud stayed alive with a 9-2 thumping of winless Denmark.
Ulsrud, last year’s Olympic silver medallist, is 4-4 and needs to go on a long winning streak.
Pete Fenson of the U.S. doubled up on Korea 8-4 to move to 3-5.
