Martin settles for silver at curling worlds
Last Updated: Sunday, April 12, 2009 | 11:00 PM ET
CBC Sports
Team Canada skip Kevin Martin, left, and third John Morris agonize over losing the men's world curling championship to Scotland on Sunday night in Moncton, N.B. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)Scotland's David Murdoch defeated Kevin Martin of Edmonton 8-6 on Sunday in the gold medal game at the world men's curling championship in Moncton, N.B.
Murdoch stole two in the 10th end to win his second world title in four years and earn his third consecutive victory over Martin.
Martin, who defeated Murdoch in last year's championship final in South Dakota, previously lost twice to the Scot in Moncton, in the last draw of the round robin and in Friday's one-versus-two playoff game.
"Hell of a game," Martin said.
"They had us in a little trouble there — a lot of rocks in the four foot and theirs was in the middle," he added. "I had to hit my last one a little thicker. It was close. We actually moved shot rock. It was close."
Martin and his team — third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert — were attempting to become the first repeat men's champions since fellow Edmonton skip Randy Ferbey won back-to-back world titles in 2002 and 2003.
The rinks traded deuces through the first two ends before Murdoch scored a single in the third.
Martin scored two more in the fourth, but Murdoch answered back with a single in the sixth to tie it up at 4-4.
Martin replied by scoring one in the seventh and stealing one in the next end, before Murdoch scored another deuce in the ninth to make it 6-6.
With a crowded house in the 10th end and lying shot rock, Martin threw away his first stone, thinking he could only make things worse for himself if he put it in play. That forced Murdoch to play a quiet tap-back to lie shot, which he did.
Martin then missed his pivotal last shot — an attempted run-back double takeout — allowing Murdoch to steal two and take the title.
"Never easy to lose, especially when you have the hammer, but they made the shots and got us in big trouble," Martin said.
Third John Morris wasn't in total agreement with Martin throwing away his first stone.
"It was a team decision. I probably wouldn't have thrown it if I was throwing, but Kevin was happy with it and we support him in his decision," Morris said.
"It was a bit of a gong show. It's disappointing not to come home with the gold medal…. I guess it's better at a world final than an Olympic trial final. We'll have to regroup and bounce back next week."
Earlier on Sunday, Norway's Thomas Ulsrud beat Ralph Stoeckli of Switzerland 6-4 to take the bronze medal.
With files from The Canadian Press
