World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship

Curling for two

Mixed doubles is the youngest discipline in international curling. A team consists of only two people, one woman and one man. Each team plays five stones per end, and one further stone per team is placed at fixed positions before the end begins. A game has eight ends and is much shorter than in four-player curling.

Special rules

• Pre-placed stones: one stone lies as a guard in front of the house, and one stone of the other team in the house behind it.
• Power play: once per game, the team with the hammer may have the pre-placed stones positioned to the side; see power play.
• Sweeping: both players may sweep, including the player who delivered the stone.
• Protection rule: at the start of the end, certain stones may not be knocked out of play.

History

The first mixed doubles world championship took place in 2008. The early editions were held in Europe, and Switzerland won several of the early titles. Mixed doubles has been Olympic since 2018. Since then the field has grown strongly, because many federations invest in the new Olympic discipline.

Format

Because the field is large, mixed doubles teams play their preliminary round in several groups. The best pairs from each group reach the playoffs. As games are shorter, three or more rounds often take place in one day. How many teams take part depends on the qualification events and can vary from year to year.

Why mixed doubles is so popular

Mixed doubles is fast, attacking and high-scoring. Because stones are in play from the start, there are hardly any quiet ends. For clubs the discipline is attractive because only two players are needed. Many pairs also play together privately, such as siblings or married couples.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the strongest nations. Germany and Austria also regularly send teams to the world and European championships. Anyone wanting to try mixed doubles will find opportunities at many curling clubs.

Playing time

A mixed doubles game is much shorter than a four-player game. Each team has its own thinking time. This allows several rounds in one day and makes the tournament varied for spectators.

Olympic champions

Since mixed doubles became Olympic in 2018, the discipline has produced its own stars. In Pyeongchang in 2018, Canada's Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris won the first Olympic gold. In Beijing in 2022, Italy's Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner won without losing a single game. It was also Italy's first Olympic curling gold.

The first world championship

The first mixed doubles world championship took place in 2008 in Vierumäki, Finland. The winner was Switzerland, which won several titles in the early years. Back then mixed doubles was still a niche discipline, and many nations sent players from their four-player teams.

Relevance for Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Mixed doubles gives countries with a smaller curling scene a chance, because only two top players are needed. Germany and Austria have therefore focused more on the discipline and take part regularly in the world championship.

Who throws what?

In mixed doubles, one partner plays the first and last stone of an end and the other the three middle ones. The roles may change from end to end. Many teams let the stronger draw player throw the decisive stones.