Latvia have become the first team to qualify for the play-off round at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Lethbridge ©WCF/Richard Gray

Latvia became the first team to qualify for the play-off round at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Lethbridge after extending their unbeaten record to six matches today.

Andris Bremanis and Santa Blumberga beat Estonia’s Erkki Lill and Maile Moelder 6-4 in the 17th session of round-robin games at the ATB Centre.

This leaves only two more guaranteed qualification places in Group A with Hungary and Finland currently occupying second and third place respectively.

Hungary’s Zsolt Kiss and Dorottya Palancsa defeated Finland’s Tomi Rantamaki and Oona Kauste 9-3 in their first match of the day before thrashing Japan’s Shinya Abe and Ayumi Ogasawara 15-4.

Rantamaki and Kauste bounced back from their loss to overcome Belarus' Ilya Shalamitski and Ekaterina Kirillova 9-6.

Hungary now have four wins from six matches, while Finland have three wins from five.

The top three teams from each pool will move into the play-offs following the completion of the round-robin stage on Thursday (April 27).

The fourth-placed team with the best draw shot challenge will also qualify.

Scotland remain top of Group B after making it five wins from five today with comfortable victories over Wales, 11-2, and Serbia, 11-0.

Hungary won both of their Group A matches today ©WCF/Richard Gray
Hungary won both of their Group A matches today ©WCF/Richard Gray

South Korea and last year's bronze medallists the United States both hold the same record and lead Groups C and D respectively.

The Koreans defeated Poland 11-1 in their only outing of the day, while the US beat Czech Republic 7-4 in what was a battle of two undefeated teams.

The Czechs are now tied for second place with hosts Canada, 10-6 winners against Germany. 

Group E is still led by Switzerland, who made it four wins out of four with a 9-4 victory at the expense of Spain.

Defending champions Russia are their closest challengers and claimed their third win from four matches today with a 10-1 success over Slovenia.

The full list of teams due to compete at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, where mixed doubles curling is making its debut on the programme, will be known after the conclusion of the event in Alberta.

A total of 16 teams, spread across eight countries, are set to participate at the Winter Olympics in the South Korean resort.

The seven Member Associations with the most points from 2016 and 2017 will gain qualification to the Games and join hosts South Korea, who are guaranteed a place in the mixed doubles curling event.

Round-robin action in Lethbridge is due to continue tomorrow.