With two games to go in the 12-team round robin, USA (6-3) could clinch a berth with a victory over Switzerland (5-4) in the afternoon draw at Aomori Prefecture Skating Rink. The Americans will close out the preliminary round action on Thursday against Japan (3-6).

"We knew coming in today that these next three games were very important," said USA skip Debbie McCormick (Rio, Wis.). "We don't want to get into the tiebreaker mess."

USA looked much more confident and consistent against a strong Chinese team that has taken many of the top contenders here to the last rocks. The Americans held a 5-2 lead at the fifth-end break, marking only the second time all week that they've led at that point. McCormick and company ended the contest early with an open hit for five points in the seventh, after which China's Bingyu Wang team conceded.

"We felt better today," said McCormick, whose team in contrast spotted the opposition huge early leads in the previous two games. "We came out solid and tried to play a little more defensively, keep it more open. Before, we were playing really aggressive with a lot of rocks in play, and I'd either have a really tough shot or nothing. I think this helped today."

The Swiss kept on USA's heels by defeating Japan this morning, 8-4. Canada (9-0) remained unbeaten with a 10-5 victory over Russia, while Denmark (8-1) kept a lock on second place by holding off Germany, 10-8.

"We're still in charge of our own destiny, and we know what we need to do," McCormick said in looking ahead to today's showdown with Switzerland. Canada and Denmark also meet this afternoon, while third-place Scotland (6-2) plays Czech Republic.

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Game scores: Draw 12 - Russia 11, Italy 4; Scotland 9, Germany 4; Canada 8, Czech Republic 2; Denmark 9, Sweden 8. Draw 13 - USA 10, China 3; Switzerland 8, Japan 4; Canada 10, Russia 5; Denmark 10, Germany 8.

USA line scores:
CHN 010 101 0x 3
*USA 201 020 5x 10
*designates last-rock advantage in first end

Round robin standings
Canada 9-0
Denmark 8-1
Scotland 6-2
USA 6-3
Switzerland 5-4
Sweden 4-4
China 4-5
Russia 4-5
Japan 3-6
Germany 2-7
Czech Republic 1-7
Italy 0-8

USA Curling is sponsored by AIT Worldwide Logistics, AmerAust Technologies and Nike as well as by AT&T, General Motors, The Home Depot, and Bank of America through a joint marketing program with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

For more information: Rick Patzke, USA Curling, rick.patzke@usacurl.org.