Sweden's team celebrate winning a third successive World Men's Curling Championship title ©WCF/Jeffrey Au

Sweden won their third straight World Men’s Curling Championship title after beating Scotland, as the competition finished on schedule in Calgary today despite a coronavirus outbreak forcing a brief halt in proceedings.

Sweden recorded a 10-5 victory in the gold medal game, which saw them make history by becoming the first country to win three world titles in a row.

The halting of proceedings on Saturday (April 10), which was necessary after four positive coronavirus cases were found in the tournament bubble at the WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park, meant a busy final day of action.

Action started with the second qualification game to decide the final place in the semi-finals, with Switzerland edging out the United States 7-6 to secure a last four match against Sweden.

Sweden comfortably won the semi-final against the Swiss, with five shots on the fifth end helping them seal an emphatic 11-3 victory with two ends to spare.

In the second semi-final, Scotland won a tighter contest 5-3 against the Russian Curling Federation, with three shots scored on the third end proving the key moment.

As part of the rearranged schedule, the two medal matches took place simultaneously in the evening.

Niklas Edin skippered Sweden to a third successive World Men's Curling Championship title ©Getty Images
Niklas Edin skippered Sweden to a third successive World Men's Curling Championship title ©Getty Images

In the battle for bronze Switzerland’s team of skip Peter de Cruz, Valentin Tanner, Michel Sven, Benoit Schwarz and alternate Pablo Lachat edged out the Russian Curling Federation 6-5, after scoring a single shot in the tenth and final end.

In the gold medal game Sweden’s team of skip Niklas Edin, Christoffer Sundgren, Rasmus Wranaa, Oskar Eriksson and alternate Daniel Magnusson beat Scotland’s team of skip Bruce Mouat, Hammy McMillan, Bobbie Lammie, Grant Hardie and alternate Ross Whyte 10-5.

For the first eight ends there was nothing to split the teams who exchanged three ends of scoring a single shot and one end of two shots to leave the contest fascinatingly poised at 5-5.

Sweden then took command and scored five shots on end nine to open up a five shot cushion and win a historic title with an end to spare.

As well as a gold medal, Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson also had another cause for celebration, as the country’s third won the Collie Campbell Memorial Award.

The award is handed out to the player judged by his fellow competitors to best demonstrate curling’s values and sportsmanship during the event.