Korea and US book play-off slots in Las Vegas

In two winner-takes-all contests, the US downed Switzerland 5-3 as Korea defeated Russia 9-4 to secure their play-off spots.

Korea will now take on Norway with the US going up against Canada for a place in the semi-finals.

US skip Rich Ruohonen said: "It's unbelievable. We started off 1-6 and we easily could have been 5-1 or something like that and to come back and win five straight games with our backs against the wall – and get a little help from Korea – is fantastic.

"That was one of our best games, I think. Top to bottom, we played really well. If we play like that we have a chance.

"We have to play the best team in the world and we have to play them like we did last time. We're going to have to make some big shots and the normal ones you have to make. They're going to be gunning for us and want payback, I'm sure."

The US took control of the tie against Switzerland in the second end when Greg Persinger bagged two points to open the scoring.

A single point steal in the ninth end was enough to hand the Americans a 5-3 lead and the victory in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile Korea's skip Kim ChangMin was the star of the show, scoring four points in the fifth end to take the game away from the Russians.

He said: "It feels so great because in my last few games there were many mistakes and it was so hard for my team, but we kept playing and got better and better and now we've qualified [for the play-off stage].

"I was very confident with my [last] shot. I thought I would make it and I did."

Sportsbeat 2018