China and Slovakia will compete for the bronze medal at the impressive Uiam ice rink.

With qualification points for the Sochi 2014 Paralympics being offered at this event, the result is a particular boost for Russia, who is now assured of their best ever finish at a World Wheelchair Curling Championship.

"We are in a good mood before this game," said Russian skip Andrey Smirnov ahead of the final against South Korea.

"I'm really happy we will now win a medal, I'm just not sure what kind it will be."


After the round robin, the competition's lower places were decided with the United Statesfinishing fifth, Sweden sixth, Canada seventh, Scotland eighth, Norway ninth and Italy tenth.

The big shock was Canada, the reigning world and Paralympic champions, finishing seventh after winning just three and losing six of their round robin games.

However, it is perhaps no major surprise to see Russia and South Korea in the final, as the two countries will be hosting the next two Winter Paralympic Games and are, therefore, both currently investing large amounts of money into Paralympic sport.

Russia has Sochi 2014 while Korea will host the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang in six years' time.


Wheelchair curling itself is similar in many ways to its able-bodied parent game, except that no sweeping takes place and each game consists of eight instead of ten ends.

It first appeared at the Turin 2006 Winter Paralympic Games where Canada, skipped by Chris Daw, won the gold medal by beating Britain, skipped by Frank Duffy, 7-4 in the final.

The first World Wheelchair Curling Championships were first held in Sursee in 2002 when the event was won by the host nation as Switzerland beat Canada 7-6 in a thrilling final.

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