European Curling Championships 2023: Scotland’s Team Mouat defeat Sweden to claim fourth men’s title

The 2023 final was as tight as expected but after eight hard-fought ends, the match appeared to heading in favour of the defending champions. With the hammer in hand, and the score at 5-4 going into the ninth, the Scots strategy seemed plain: blank the end and retain the hammer for the tenth.

A rare miss by Great Britain’s Olympic silver medallist Mouat, however, forced the home side into scoring a point. It saw the Swedes take the hammer, and the advantage, going into the last end.

Unbowed, Scotland mounted its response, capitalising on Swedish errors to keep them from dominating. After setting up the perfect guard with his final throw, Mouat watched as his counterpart Edin, needing a score of two to take the win, could only find one point, forcing to match into an extra end.

Back with the hammer for the extra end the Scots, in the ascendency, continued to hold the Swedes at bay and at the close of play, it was a simple draw to the button for Mouat to claim victory.

“This one is extra special because it’s in Scotland,” Mouat shared with the World Curling broadcast afterwards.

“Just having everyone here, family and friends that maybe haven’t seen me curl live, yeah, it’s a wee bit emotional but I’m absolutely buzzing. Just so happy to have it in Scotland.”

Describing how the Scots were able to win, he said: “Starting with the hammer, keeping our noses in front the entire way. We obviously had to try and force them in the 10th end and it was a really good end, and yes, managed to get away with that one.”

The Swedish team led by Olympic gold medallist Niklas Edin, a seven-time European champion, leave Aberdeen with a fourth silver medal.

Earlier, Switzerland’s Team Tirinzoni defeated Italy 6-5 to win the women’s title.