Skipped by Kalle Kiiskinen, Finland thrashed Lin Ting-Li's Chinese Taipei 15-2 at the Kisakallio Sports Institute, effectively ending the game after the first end when they scored seven.

Finland followed that up with a 7-6 victory over Sergio Vez's Spain.

The Dutch team defeated Turkey 9-3 in the opening session of the tournament, but later lost 9-4 against a team from Russia.

Russia's opener was against Spain and they won 8-4, aided by a strong score of three in the third end, so they like the Finns have two wins from two.

The team will have to play under a Russian Curling Federation banner should they qualify for the World Championship later this year.

Chinese Taipei suffered another big defeat to Maeda Takumi's Japan, losing 12-3.

Turkey defeated Japan in a tight 8-7 contest in the evening session.

In the women's tournament, Hung Ling-Yue's Hong Kong started off their campaign with a commanding 10-1 victory over Isis Oliveira's Brazil. 

Marianne Roervik's Norway won by the same scoreline on the other sheet over Finland, skipped by Miia Ahrenberg.

Madeleine Dupont's Denmark thrashed Brazil too, going 17-0 ahead in just six ends, stealing in five straight ends.

Evelina Barone's Latvia got off to a winning start by beating Hong Kong 12-4 but it would not last

In the evening session, Denmark defeated Latvia 10-4 to lead the women's standings with Norway, both on two victories.

Norway's second win came on a technicality, with the Czech team having withdrawn over a coronavirus outbreak.