The northernmost international curling tournament WCT Arctic Curling Cup was held at the ice arena «Taimyr» in Dudinka from 23 to 26 May.

This year 10 women's teams from 7 countries competed in Dudinka. Russia was represented by 4 strongest teams with a truly stellar squads: champions of Russia 2019 from the team Alina Kovaleva, ex-European champions from team Anna Sidorova, world junior champions team Vlada Rumiantseva, as well as the team of Krasnoyarsk region, reinforced by the famous masters – Ekaterina Galkina and Olga Zharkova.

World and European champions, Olympic medalists from Canada, Scotland, Switzerland, Sweden competed with the strongest Russian teams.

Before the start of the tournament experts agreed that at least 7-8 teams can actually qualify for the final. The heat of passion during the tournament confirmed that despite the end of the world season, the teams came to Taimyr not only to get acquainted with the beauty of the Russian Arctic and the hospitality of the inhabitants of these harsh latitudes.

In 2017 the team of the famous Anna Sidorova gained victory at the Arctic Cup, winning all 5 games. This time Anna struggled already in the group stage. Only according to DSC her team was ahead of the young Russian world junior champions (skip Vlada Rumiantseva) and team of two-time world champion Binia Feltscher from Switzerland. The Canadian team Kerri Einarson was the best in this group, who made a real breakthrough in the last two seasons, advancing to the leaders not only in Canadian, but also in world curling.

In the other group Scottish team Eve Muirhead, who already has experience of successful performances in Russia – the gold of the European championship 2011 in Moscow and bronze of Olympic games in Sochi, won all 4 matches. The Russian team Alina Kovaleva took 2nd place in this group. The team of Krasnoyarsk Krai showed a decent game, winning two matches and taking third place in the group.

In the semifinals, the success was celebrated by teams from one group – the Scottish team confidently beat Sidorova with a score of 8:2, not allowing Anna to defend the title of the winner of the 2017 tournament . In another semi-final in a much more persistent struggle Alina Kovaleva defeated Kerri Einarson with a score of 5:4.

The third place was taken by the team of Canada, which outplayed team Anna Sidorova with the score 5:4.

In the final team Kovaleva had strong start of the match, leading 2:1 after the third end, but then the Scottish team won three ends in a row, which brought them a win with a score of 5:4. Scottish curlers won all 6 matches at the tournament. Team Muirhead got USD 16 000 for the 1st place. Total prize fund of the tournament was USD 50 000.

As part of the Arctic Cup for the second year in a row was a youth tournament of young Dudinka curling players from schools of the city, which was attended by teams made up of players from 10 to 17 years. And on the mini-site Ulyana Vasilyeva from team Alina Kovaleva held a master class for students of the boarding school.

The awarding of the participants of the children's tournament took place at the crowded stands just before the awarding of the winners of the adult Arctic Cup. The titled Russian curlers Ekaterina Galkina, Anna Sidorova and Alina Kovaleva awarded young Taimyr athletes.

Of course, the sports festival was not limited to the matches of the highest level at the Taimyr arena, the quality of ice on which was once again highly appreciated by the famous curlers.

Near the arena were established the «chumy» of indigenous peoples of Taimyr, where guests and participants of the tournament could get acquainted with the culture, lifestyle, costumes, traditional crafts of the peoples of the North. The focus was on the northern deers, with whom a lot of photos were taken, and those who wished could make a small trip on a deer sleigh. Friendly sled dogs became other center of gravity. Local vocal and dance groups performed on the stage near the arena.

And on the arena a full house of audience gathered for the opening ceremony. Every year the organizers prepare something new, this time the light and music show was dedicated to the elements, which traditionally play an important role in the life of the people of the North. Spectacular fire show complete the picture.

Dmitry Pristanskov, vice president of Nornickel, said in his welcoming speech at the ceremony: "This is a unique event on a global scale. No one in the world has done or is doing this. The phrase "social responsibility" for us is not just symbols on paper in annual reports. This is the essence, spirit, meaning of our work. Our task is to make a comfortable environment for citizens, employees, all who come".

Perhaps we can say that the tournament has already taken its place not only in the calendar of the world curling season, but also in the hearts of the residents of Taimyr, who managed to fall in love with this unhurried but exciting sport.

Game results

26 May

Semifinals

Russia (Alina Kovaleva) – Canada (Kerri Einarson) – 5:4 (2:0, 0:1, 1:0, 0:1, 1:0, 0:1, 0:1, 1:0)

Scotland (Eve Muirhead) – Russia (Anna Sidorova) – 8:2 (0:0, 1:0, 1:0, 3:0, 0:2, 3:0, x:x)

Third place match

Canada (Kerri Einarson) – Russia (Anna Sidorova) – 5:4 (0:1, 1:0, 2:0, 1:0, 0:1, 1:0, 0:1, 0:1)

Final

Scotland (Eve Muirhead) – Russia (Alina Kovaleva) – 5:4 (1:0, 0:2, 0:0, 2:0, 1:0, 1:0, 0:1, 0:1)