Russia on song

Under the leadership of 20-year-old skip Ludmila Privivkova, the defending world junior champion, Russia's national women's team became the first squad to qualify for Friday"s playoffs after a 7-3 win over Sweden on Tuesday afternoon. Russia is undefeated at 7-0, two games clear of second-place Germany (5-2).

Five teams - Scotland, Denmark, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland - are clutching at third place with 4-3 records. The Swiss almost dropped out of that group after surrendering three consecutive steals late in their match against Norway, but skip Mirjam Ott finally won it 6-5 in an extra-end.

After showing steady improvement since their debut in 1995, Russia's current lineup of athletes broke through last year with the junior crown and a strong fifth-place finish at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin.

"It was a big deal, fifth place was very good for our team," said the telegenic Privivkova. "It was the first time we beat (Anette) Norberg and to do it at the Olympics was great."

Norberg, winner of the vaunted "triple crown" last year, lost only three games in Olympic, World and European championship play.

Privivkova's only hiccup in 2005 was last year's Euro shootout in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A 2-9 record meant an eighth-place finish and a challenge match series against Germany for the right to compete at the world championship. German veteran Andrea Schöpp beat the Russians twice in the best-of-three series to advance, but this year's fast start by the Russians has them two games ahead of Schöpp and all others... and their major goal is within easy reach.

"First for us is to qualify for worlds, and then to win medals at Olympics," Privivkova said. "Top seven here and you go to worlds and then you get the Olympic points, that is the focus."

And her first adult-aged championship title, such as the European Championship?

"Yes, that would be nice too," she smiled.

Russia faces Germany and Norway to finish up the round-robin.

In men's play, Scotland's defending world champion David Murdoch moved to sole possession of first-place at 6-0 after pounding host Switzerland 8-3. Andi Schwaller's Swiss fell to 5-1 while Finland, Germany and Norway are tied for third at 4-2. Three men's draws remain leading into Thursday's tiebreakers (if necessary) followed by Friday's semi-finals.