In a surprising turn of events, the Swedish women's curling team, known as Lag Hasselborg, suffered a substantial loss against South Korea with a score of 8-3 during the penultimate round of the qualifying series. This defeat was particularly notable as it followed six consecutive wins, marking the team's first loss after a previous defeat to Canada just the day before. With the playoffs already secured, the loss did not drastically affect Sweden’s standing, but it raises questions about their performance going into the knockout phases.

The match started poorly for the Swedish team, who struggled to find their rhythm right from the beginning. They conceded three points in the first end, followed by another point in the second and two more in the third, quickly finding themselves down 6-0, effectively putting them in a very challenging position. Swedish player Sofia Scharback highlighted the issue, noting that they could not find the right speeds at the start, allowing South Korea to place multiple stones effectively within the house.

This match was especially poignant as Lag Hasselborg had previously emerged victorious against South Korea in the finals to win the Olympic gold medal. With this heavy defeat, the morale of the team may be a concern moving forward, as they face the critical stages of the championship. The implications of their recent performance will be closely watched as they prepare to compete against other international teams in the semifinals and potentially beyond.