All progressed to the quarter-finals, although perhaps the biggest winners of all were Thailand who secured their first ever win in the competition with a thrilling 6-5 win over Singapore.

Hosts Slovakia were in imperious mood against Germany in securing a quarter-final against Finland.

A 7-3 victory left few in doubt as to their pedigree.

Denisa Ferencikova and Lucia Kosturiakova put Slovakia 2-0 up before Germany responded through Riccarda Schimanski.

Germany levelled through Laura Neumann before Slovakia captain Kosturiakova made it 3-2 during a power-play and Michaela Sponiarova added a fourth. 

Katarina Klapitova added a fifth goal in the last minute of the second period.

Kosturiakova completed her hat-trick to make it 6-2. 

Germany centre Neumann scored her second goal in the 58th minute only for Lenka Cuprakova to complete the scoring.

Latvia defeated Denmark 4-1 and will now face Sweden.

Liga Garklava opened the scoring before Latvian centre Evelina Garbare made it 2-0 and Gunita Karklina added a third goal before the end of the second period.

Zeltite Bankava added a fourth goal before Danish centre Cecilia Di Nardo pulled one back in the 50th minute. 

Poland thrashed Estonia 6-1 and will play against Czech Republic in the last eight.

Katrin Kivirand scored an own goal in the third minute but Poland's lead was soon cut short within 36 seconds through Reti Vaart. 

Agata Plechan added a second goal for Poland in the final minute of the first period before two goals in five minutes at the start of the second period, through Elzbieta Piotrowska and Justyna Krzywak made the game safe at 4-1. 

Poland continued to dominate in the third period, with Krzywak and Elzbieta Piotrowska adding further goals. 

In the day's final game Norway faced the United States looking to end a run of disappointing results.

They took the lead twice through Karen Farnes and Mia Osterhaug but were pegged back to 2-2 by the end of the first period through by Michelle Linhart's goals.

Norway pulled away with three goals in the second period with two further goals from the impressive Farnes and Henriette Knudsen to lead 5-2.

The third period, however, was one of American dominance, particularly in the early stages and it left Norway hanging on for dear life.

The US scored twice through Christine Lindberg and Marie Haggstrom  but Norway held on and will now face Switzerland.

Other countries were fighting for lower positions.

Japan beat Australia 5-4 in the fight for 13th place and will now face Thailand.

Yui Goto put Japan ahead before an own-goal drew the game level.

Mahiro Shimizu made it 2-1 before Fiona Cameron was given a two-minute penalty. 

Yui Goto made it 3-1 for Japan,  Rin Ozawa added another before Australia scored three goals through Tara Meyer, Blaise Hodges, Ruby Wright to put the game back in the balance. 

Singapore defeated Thailand in an 11 goal thriller. 

Sirinan Boonbut and Shannon Yeo scored as the first period ended 1-1.

Boonbut scored two more goals but Jill Quek cut down the deficit. 

In the third period, Thailand increased their lead with a goal by Nina Suppa. 

Singapore did not stay behind for long with Quek scoring. 

Hui Hui Ong equalized and overtime seemed certain before a last minute Boonbut goal and, three seconds later, Tikhamporn Sakunpithak scored to make it 6-4.

Two seconds before the end, Shannon Yeo cut down the deficit to 6-5.