The round-robin stage concluded today at the 2016 WCF World Mixed Curling Championships in Kazan ©WCF

The final session of round-robin play at the 2016 World Curling Federation (WCF) World Mixed Curling Championship in Kazan saw Canada maintain their unbeaten start and qualify for the knock-out stages after they beat Austria 6-4.

The Canadians scored two early points in the opening end before their European opponents hit back to level the match after the second.

However, the Canadians added four more to their total without reply giving them an unassailable lead and ultimately the 6-4 win they needed to secure top spot in group D.

Elsewhere, with both teams undefeated, the winner of Sweden v Hungary would maintain their perfect record and top Group B.

Sweden opened the scoring with three points in the first end and followed that with a steal of two points in the second.

Hungary scored their first points in the third end but Sweden would respond with two points of their own and a single point steal in the fifth.

Hungary could only score a single point in the sixth end which meant Sweden were victorious, 8-3.

“It was our biggest test of the group, but I think we played really well," said Sweden's skip, Kristian Lindstroem.

"We had some bad shots too but on the whole we played well and that I’m happy about it.

"We went into peeling mode in the third end and we did really good, so it was an easier game from going forward from there.”

Italy beat Norway 7-5 to qualify for the next round ©WCF
Italy beat Norway 7-5 to qualify for the next round ©WCF

Elsewhere in today's action, Germany defeated Turkey 6-4 to remain undefeated in group E, Switzerland defeated Slovenia 6-4 to claim second place in the same group and Italy beat Norway 7-5 to also qualify.

In the final two games of the session there were three teams still battling for a play-off spot from Group D.

South Korea claimed second place in the group and one of the remaining play-off places as they defeated Andorra 9-3.

Their win coupled with Canada’s defeat of Austria ensured that they would be one of only two teams to finish their group with a record of five wins and two losses.

The final game of the session saw Latvia and the United States battle it out in a winner takes all match in Group D.

With the game tied at 3-3 after eight ends, the US won a tight clash 5-3 and secured a place in the play-offs.

There was also one session of tie-breakers for the two remaining third place group finishers this evening.

Finland narrowly edged England 6-5 to advance whilst the Czech Republic also made it through as they eased past Denmark 10-3.