SURSEE – The United States will meet Italy in a tiebreaker for the fourth and final playoff position at the 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championships.

USA skip Augusto Perez led his squad to a 9-2 win over Switzerland the final round robin draw and also watched Russia upset Italy's Andrea Tabanelli 5-4. Both teams finished 5-4 and will meet Thursday in a tiebreaker for the final playoff spot.

Korea's Hak Sung Kim lost his last match 5-3 to Norway's Rune Lorentsen but still finished first with a 7-2 win/loss record. The Koreans will meet Canada, which finished 6-3, in Friday's Page Playoff 1 vs 2 game. The Canadians lost their second game of the day, 5-2 to Scotland's Michael McCreadie.

The Norwegians also finished 6-3 to claim third place, and will battle the tiebreak winner in the Friday's Page 3 vs 4 matchup.

American second Jimmy Joseph fired a stunning 90 per cent in the win over Switzerland.

"I'm shooting the best I've ever shot," said Joseph, who cuts a modern figure with large earrings and stylish hair.

"I feel so different. At home I'm missing shots; I come here and I'm knocking 'em dead.

"I've got all this energy, and my teammates say 'Relax, ADD-boy!' But it's great."

The Championship concludes with the final on February 9.

In the remaining match, Japan defeated Sweden 8-6. The Swedes finished at 4-5.

Scotland, Switzerland, Japan and Russia all finished 3-6, with the latter two teams declared the ninth and 10th-place finishers based on Draw Shot Challenge results. Both Japan and Russia will have to qualify for the 2009 Worlds through the Wheelchair Challenge competition next fall.  

Real-time results - including shot-by-shot graphics and detailed statistics - are available at: www.wwcc.curlit.com

In addition, the International Paralympic Committee will broadcast packaged coverage of the semifinals and finals, at between 90 minutes and two hours in length, located at the web TV channel www.ParalympicSport.TV

An embedded version of the channel is also located on the IPC website at: www.paralympic.org