The four qualifiers for the World Championships were officially decided yesterday, with only classification matches remaining today.

Australia justified their status as the top ranked team in the qualification event but were forced to come through a battle against Singapore in the final.

The first two periods of the match proved close affairs at the Hanrim Sports Complex, with the two teams deadlocked at 1-1.

The match then sprang into life in the final period, with Singapore twice taking the lead, before ultimately falling to a 5-4 defeat.

Thailand and Japan were hoping to boost their morale even further in the third place playoff.

It followed both nations winning semi-final matches yesterday, which ensured they earned the final two spots at the World Championships.

Japan proved the dominant team in the playoff as they comfortably eased to an 8-1 success over the opponents.

Beaten semi-finalists South Korea were able to end on a high in front of a home crowd by beating New Zealand 9-2 to finish in fifth place.

The World Championships are due to take place in the Czech capital Prague from December 1 to 9.

Three European qualifiers are scheduled to take place between January 31 and 4 in Nitra in Slovakia.

An Americas event featuring just Canada and the United States is set to take place in Toronto on February 10 and 11.

Finland are the defending champions.