Curling semi-final live - Eve Muirhead's Team GB stage glorious recovery to stun Sweden at Winter Olympics in Beijing

Updated 18/02/2022 at 15:24 GMT

Eve Muirhead's team needed a huge slice of good fortune to make the semi-finals of the women's curling, but are now just one win away from a guaranteed medal for Team GB at the Winter Olympics. After Bruce Mouat and the GB men won their semi-final yesterday, join us for live updates as Muirhead bids for further glory at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.

Eve Muirhead

Image credit: Getty Images

Great Britain 12-11 Sweden

So Great Britain will face Japan for gold in the final on Sunday (1:05am GMT on Sunday). The men's team first face Sweden on Saturday morning (6.50am GMT on Saturday) as they chase the Olympic dream.

Could it be double gold for GB in curling? What a story that would be.

Beijing 2022

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Eve Muirhead used all her experience from four Olympics to lead her team to victory.

Congratulations to Eve Muirhead (skip), Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff, Vicky Wright and alternate Mili Smith for reaching the final.

One more victory needed for the gold medal.

1st Extra End: Great Britain 12-11 Sweden

Hasselborg trying to reduce the size of the target of Muirhead in her final stone, but she is short. GB hold shot.

GB have done it! Hasselborg was short of pace and GB come back from 4-0 down to claim the final spot.

Sweden's four-year spell as Olympic champions is over.

GB will face Japan in the final on Sunday in Beijing.

What drama! Magical from Team Muirhead. A 20-year wait is over for a GB women's team to reach the final.

1st Extra End: Great Britain 11-11 Sweden

Anna Hasselborg drops her penultimate stone into the house.

Muirhead will follow that line surely to knock it out or sit on top of it.

It nudges the red stone to lie shot in this first extra end.

GB so close to the final..

1st Extra End: Great Britain 11-11 Sweden

Another time-out for Sweden with their coach.

He is trying to offer up some advice in the death throes of this semi-final.

McManus is short of pace with her final stone. Two more Swedish stones to come.

Vicky Wright takes out another Swedish stone. The house is wide open for GB.

Muirhead has seen this all before.

She will have the draw in the final stone to claim the final spot.

1st Extra End: Great Britain 11-11 Sweden

The house is empty which is good news for GB with four stones remaining.

Superb from Jennifer Dodds to clear out the Swedish stones.

GB again closing in on the final.

1st Extra End: Great Britain 11-11 Sweden

No heroics needed by GB. Just want the final say in this end.

And they have that final shot.

Must quickly put the misery of that three-shot swing behind them.

10th End: Great Britain 11-11 Sweden

Anna Hasselborg has done it! Sweden with three shots in the closing seconds of this remarkable joust.

Like scoring a last-minute equaliser! GB must clear the heads. They have the chance with the hammer in extra-time.

Red onto red! And knocks out the yellow to lie three.

Sweden take this to an extra end.

10th End: Great Britain 11-8 Sweden

This match not over yet. Sweden with chance to lie two.

Anna Hasselborg's penultimate stone runs out of gas.

Sweden lying one with final skip stones to come.

Muirhead with her final stone to come. Just drops in a guard to protect the lead.

10th End: Great Britain 11-8 Sweden

Japan with an 8-6 victory over Switzerland, who will be forced to contest the match for bronze.

10th End: Great Britain 11-8 Sweden

Sweden have two reds at the front, but GB have two yellows lying menacingly behind them.

Vicky Wright misses the chance to take out those reds with her yellow. Takes out a Swedish guard with her second stone.

Sweden needing a three to extend the contest.

All getting very frantic in the Ice Cube.

The winner of this match will face Japan in the final.

10th End: Great Britain 11-8 Sweden

GB so close to the final. They can almost reach out and touch it.

Hailey Duff puts two yellow stones in the house to get this final end off and running.

All GB need to do is avoid the Swedes achieving three and that will be that.

9th End: Great Britain 11-8 Sweden

It is FOUR for GB. A wonderful four.

A magical final shot from Muirhead.

Knocks out the red stone to leave the four yellow stones smiling in the house.

That could be the match-winning shot.

9th End: Great Britain 7-8 Sweden

Muirhead uses her first skip stone to get rid of the Swedish guard.

Hasselborg has decisions to make to limit the damage.

Which could be four or five for GB.

The match could be settled on this end.

Hasselborg with a solid stone, but Muirhead to come..

9th End: Great Britain 7-8 Sweden

GB looking for at least two shots from this end before the skip stones are sent tumbling down.

Five yellow GB stones surround one Swedish stone at the moment.

Anna Hasselborg drops another red into the house, but not sure if that has changed the picture. She has one left of this end.

Muirhead might try to push the red out of the centre circle.

9th End: Great Britain 7-8 Sweden

Smile from Jennifer Dodds as she knocks out another red stone before Sara McManus of Sweden draws a nice stone to join the party.

Still favouring GB in this end you would have to say as Vicky Wright produces a brilliant shot after Dodds to keep the pressure on.

Another red is knocked out of the pack.

Looking very healthy for Team Muirhead with three stones remaining of the end.

9th End: Great Britain 7-8 Sweden

GB content to push a few yellow stones in and around the centre circle early on in the end.

The Swedish response sees a few reds jostle for position among them, but they could all be easily dislodged at the stroke of an unrelenting stone.

A few stones could easily jam. The key is making sure you are left with the jam at the end of the end.

A time-out being taken with the help of the GB coach who says: "we are in a really good spot".

Heartening noises.

8th End: Great Britain 7-8 Sweden

One for Sweden. Well worked out by the Swedish skip to leave her team holding one with the final stone of the eighth end as the threatening yellow stone is sent spinning away from the house, but that could have been much worse for GB.

An 8-7 lead for the Swedes with two ends remaining.

8th End: Great Britain 7-7 Sweden

Muirhead just inches away from a perfect stone, but Hasselborg takes a time-out to work out the permutations.

Swedish coach thinks this at best could be four for his team, at worst one.

Easier said than done. Swedish skip uses her first stone to knock out the GB guard.

Now would be a great time for some sort of GB 'stone of destiny' tribute act with Sweden threatening to claim more than one shot.

A brilliant effort from Muirhead with her final stone. Right at the heart of the action, and Muirhead may have just claimed shot GB in this end with one Swedish stone to come..

8th End: Great Britain 7-7 Sweden

Sara McManus clears out a few GB stones with a heavyweight Swedish drop.

Pack is opened up slightly, but the result leaves Sweden again holding two.

Skip stones to come. Ideally time for some Muirhead magic.

8th End: Great Britain 7-7 Sweden

Vicky Wright drops another yellow stone on top of the pack. Very congested around the centre circle.

There remains scope to draw a stone into the centre of the pack, but all about line and pace.

Sweden lying one, but it looks like a six-ball plant in snooker around the scoring stone of the Swedish team.

Wright just short of the sweeping pace to muscle in on the key red stone of Sweden occupying the bull's eye.

8th End: Great Britain 7-7 Sweden

Sweden will have the hammer in the final end if we are all square at that juncture.

Which is the equivalent of throwing first in a leg of darts.

Sweden slight favourites, but you would not put your last few pennies on it.

This could easily fall either way.

A GB stone blocking the Swedish stone in the centre circle. A promising start for GB in this end with five stones remaining from each team.

A taut finale.

7th End: Great Britain 7-7 Sweden

We are level at 7-7 as GB claim a vital two.

Hasselborg with a valiant effort as she fails to remove the second GB counting stone.

Muirhead finds just enough pace with the aid of the sweepers to claim the second shot with her final stone.

Just. But just is enough. Three ends remaining and this is all the line on the ice.

7th End: Great Britain 5-7 Sweden

Vicky Wright with a heavyweight stone.

Takes out one Swedish stone, but Team Hasselborg still lie one with the skip stones to come.

This is frantic stuff. One wrong move could be so costly.

Hasselborg manages to tease her penultimate stone into the house to leave Sweden holding three.

Muirhead with her two stones to come in this end and she takes out the Swedish stone to lie one.

Two stones remaining in this end..

7th End: Great Britain 5-7 Sweden

Japan lead Switzerland 6-2 in the other semi-final. They are also into their seventh end. Clock is ticking down on Swiss dreams of the final.

7th End: Great Britain 5-7 Sweden

It doesn't need stating, but vital that GB make a prompt response with the ends ticking down.

Holding the hammer, two shots would be deemed perfect for Team Muirhead.

Sweden immediately put three reds in the house at the outset of the seventh.

Jennifer Dodds gets rid of one Swedish stone with another clinging to the edge of house.

6th End: Great Britain 5-7 Sweden

A sense of relief for the Swedes as they enjoy two from the sixth end.

Hasselborg takes out Muirhead's yellow, but also sees her red fly out of the house.

Two Swedish stones in the middle white ring are good enough for a two-shot lead.

6th End: Great Britain 5-5 Sweden

Anna Hasselborg brings up the first Swedish skip stone.

Inside the four foot and they lie two in the sixth end.

Muirhead with a huge stone coming up. Must prevent Sweden opening up a three-shot lead when this end concludes.

Great try from Muirhead with the draw, but just short of the target as Sweden lie one with chance of a second or even third.

6th End: Great Britain 5-5 Sweden

Plenty of talking going on out there among the Swedish side.

They have the hammer in this sixth end, but are making hard work of this.

Lying two before Muirhead attempts to draw her first skip stone into the house.

Almost shot, but not quite. A disappointed look on the face of the GB skip.

5th End: Great Britain 5-5 Sweden

One for GB and damage limitation for Sweden.

A steal for GB in the fifth end. They enjoy one against the head as Anna Hasselborg prevents any further damage being inflicted by their opponents with her final stone doing enough to negate two counting GB stones, but not the third.

Could have been more, but it is 5-5 at the halfway stage.

What a fabulous recovery after that nightmarish first end.

5th End: Great Britain 4-5 Sweden

GB lying two from Muirhead's first stone, but not sure how long this will last for..

Anna Hasselborg takes out one of the GB stones, but not the other.

GB then holding three shots before these two final skip stones.

How does Eve Muirhead play this one? She puts a fine guard down at the front of the house.

Problems for Anna Hasselborg with one stone to come.

5th End: Great Britain 4-5 Sweden

Sweden lying shot, but GB content to put up blockers at the moment.

Again, Sweden react by taking out the guard.

Vicky Wright responds by rolling down a classy shot to pepper the Swedish counting stone.

5th End: Great Britain 4-5 Sweden

GB well in the hunt. All heating up inside the Ice Cube in Beijing.

Remember this same Swedish formation defeated GB 10-5 at the semi-final stage four years ago.

Swedes have the hammer as we reach the halfway stage of this battle.

Jennifer Dodds sees a huge curl hit the centre of the house next to a Swedish red stone.

Olympic champions lying one at the moment as Dodds uses her second stone as a guard.

4th End: Great Britain 4-5 Sweden

The bull's eye has opened up for Muirhead, but looks like the GB skip will be forced to settle for one shot.

Time to take your medicine and not get overly excited.

Two would have been nice, but the sweepers bring home that final counting stone for GB.

Back to 5-4 behind in the chase for this Olympic final place.

4th End: Great Britain 3-5 Sweden

Two more skip stones to come in this frantic fourth end. GB lying shot.

4th End: Great Britain 3-5 Sweden

Jennifer Dodds sweeping like her life depends upon it for GB.

GB holding shot, but Anna Hasselborg has chance to knock out the yellow stone and give Sweden chance to lie three.

A weighty effort takes out the yellow stone, but also a red. Sweden lie two then with Muirhead delivering her final two stones of the end..

4th End: Great Britain 3-5 Sweden

Into the last four stones of the fourth end. Sweden lying one in the early exchanges before they knock out the GB yellow.

No need to despair with the final stone of the end in GB's hands.

3nd End: Great Britain 3-5 Sweden

Hasselborg draws in the final stone to take one for Sweden, but GB will be happy with that.

They have the hammer in the fourth end and will chase the two they need to restore parity in this semi-final.

Oddly enough, the remarkable four show for the Swedes in the first end seems to have suffocated their ambition.

3nd End: Great Britain 3-4 Sweden

Off we go into the third end of this breathless encounter.

A guard being put down by GB's Hailey Duff, but quickly destroyed by the Swedes.

Looks like this end could draw only one shot for Sweden after that dramatic start.

Muirhead in the house and sits on top of another stone. Clever idea.

Error by Anna Hasselborg as she fails to clear out the GB stone from the house.

So should be just the one for the Swedes as Muirhead rolls her final stone into the house.

GB lying two at the moment...

2nd End: Great Britain 3-4 Sweden

THREE for GB. What a response from the second end.

A magical recovery after the stunning first end.

Right back in the hunt as Muirhead knocks out the Swedish stone to close the gap to one.

Sweden perhaps suffering from going defensive. Who knows, but the sense of relief among the GB women is palpable out there.

2nd End: Great Britain 0-4 Sweden

Much, much better signs from GB in this second end.

GB are lying three in the house as Anna Hasselborg works out how to solve this problem for the Swedes with two stones remaining for both teams.

One has been moved by the superb Swedish skip, but Muirhead has chance to eliminate that red stone. Which she does.

GB are lying THREE in response with only one Swedish stone to come..

Where to watch?

If anybody can pull this one back, it is skip Muirhead and her team. They won't be hitting the panic button.

1st End: Great Britain 0-4 Sweden

Swedish skip Anna Hasselborg slides in the fourth counting stone with ease. A sense of shock engulfs the GB women's team.

Unbelievably, the Olympic champions have ran away from GB with a 4-0 lead after the first end.

Still nine ends left, but this is a huge task for GB. At least they have the hammer in the second end.

A mountain to climb is an understatement, but time on their side.

1st End: Great Britain 0-0 Sweden

A disastrous start for GB. Muirhead comes up short with her second stone.

Way short. Sweden have chance of FOUR in the first end.

1st End: Great Britain 0-0 Sweden

The Olympic champions have made a fast start to this semi-final. Two reds from the Swedes are lying two.

Muirhead tries to alter the narrative with GB's penultimate yellow stone of the end, but just drifts beyond a red.

Remember Sweden hold that final key red stone. The final word if you like in this end.

Team GB – results so far

Great Britain 5-6 Switzerland
Sweden 2-8 Great Britain
Republic of Korea 9-7 Great Britain
Great Britain 10-5 USA
Denmark 2-7 Great Britain
Great Britain 3-7 Canada
Great Britain 10-4 Japan
China 8-4 Great Britain
ROC 4-9 Great Britain

Sweden start with the hammer

Ready for three hours of tense drama? Should be fascinating.

Sweden ranked higher in the round-robin stage so they have the last stone advantage at the beginning of the match.

A few stones being thrown down the ice with serious intent. A nervy start for Hailey Duff missing a Swedish stone as Sweden immediately pepper the bull's eye with two red stones.

Battle has commenced in this one.

Muirhead bids to make it third time lucky

Muirhead has been to the semi-finals twice before since her first Olympic Games in 2010.

She earned a bronze in 2014 at the Sochi Games in Russia, but would dearly love a chance of gold in Beijing.

It was only the second time the GB women claimed a curling medal after the 2002 gold in Salt Lake.

If GB beat Sweden, they will be guaranteed at least a silver medal after agonisingly finishing fourth in Pyeongchang 2018.

GB defeated the Olympic champions Sweden 8-2 in the round-robin stage. They would dearly love a repeat of that outcome tonight.

"I always say that the round-robin is one competition and the play-offs is another one," said Muirhead. "There are things we need to reset, but I definitely think that as a team, we are a play-offs team.

"We've proven that we're capable of winning that gold medal as a group, so we will go hard tomorrow."

GB bid to emulate 'Class of 2002'

We are 20 minutes away from the start of the women's semi-final against Sweden with skip Eve Muirhead, Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff and alternate Mili Smith bidding to emulate the 2002 women's golden success in Salt Lake.

Back then, skip Rhona Martin, Fiona MacDonald, Margaret Morton, Janice Rankin and Debbie Knox became the first British Winter Games gold medallists since the iconic Torvill and Dean danced to Bolero in Sarajevo in 1984.

The GB women's team enshrined their names in history with an epic 4-3 victory over Switzerland in the final in Utah that came down to the final stone as Martin knocked out the final Swiss counting stone for a famous Olympic triumph.

But first up are the formidable Swedes in the last four.

Are we on the verge of another 'Stone of Destiny' moment for GB's women 20 years later? Let's hope so.

Scene setter

It looked like being a non-event of an Olympic Games for Team GB after suffering medal misery in numerous events, but the past 24 hours have set up what could be a golden crescendo to Beijing 2022.

On Thursday, Bruce Mouat and the British men won their semi-final against USA to guarantee GB's first medal of the games when they take on Sweden at 06:00 GMT on Saturday morning.

And today, it's the turn of Eve Muirhead and the GB women. They also face Sweden in the semi-finals and another win would give GB a second guaranteed medal of the Games in the final, which is on Sunday at 01:00 GMT.

If Muirhead and team lose, then they will contest the bronze-medal match on Saturday at 12:00 GMT.