Xu Jingtao (right) of China and his teammate Wang Zhiyu (1st left) compete during the Curling Men's Round Robin Session 1 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics between China and Sweden at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 9, 2022. (HUANG XIAOBANG / XINHUA)

BEIJING - China lost to traditional powerhouse Sweden 6-4 in the first session of the men's team curling at Beijing 2022 in the National Aquatics Center here Wednesday evening.

The Swedish team, skipped by Niklas Edin, has won three consecutive world titles, and the third Oskar Eriksson just won a bronze medal for the mixed doubles the day before, while the Chinese curlers, skipped by Ma Xiuyue, are competing in their first Olympics.

The Swedish team, skipped by Niklas Edin, has won three consecutive world titles, and the third Oskar Eriksson just won a bronze medal for the mixed doubles the day before, while the Chinese curlers, skipped by Ma Xiuyue, are competing in their first Olympics

Sweden opened the game with hammer, but Edin blanked the first two ends in order to keep the last stone advantage.

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Facing China's sound defense, Sweden just scored a single point in the following end, but stole two for a 3-0 lead after the fourth end.

China scored in each of the following two ends to trail by 3-2, but a miss in the seventh end cost them another two points.

Despite the Chinese curlers' efforts to catch up, Sweden blanked the ninth 5-4 and sealed the win with hammer.

"All teams tried to know more about the sheets in the first session, and we played well today with better teamwork," said the 31-year-old Ma. "I had pictured me competing in Olympics for numerous times, and I really enjoy it now."

On the same day, Brad Gushue, the gold medalist in Turin 2006 who missed the open draw for seven, spearheaded an experienced Canadian team to override Denmark 10-5.

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With a 7-5 lead after the seventh end, a splendid double takeout by Gushue won Canada three points in the eighth end, forcing the overwhelmed Denmark to concede.

Gushue was satisfied with their first victory. "We got a miss out of them there in the sixth end, that opened it up. It allowed us to play some draws," he said.

On the pressure on team Canada, Gushue said, "yes, it's the Olympics, but what I think you can do is just to keep things in perspective and realize it's not the end of the world if you don't win here this week."

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"My wife and my kids are still going to love me - I hope," the 41-year-old joked.

In other matches of the day, defending champion the United States edged the Russian Olympic Committee 6-5 with an extra end, and Norway beat PyeongChang 2018 bronze medalist Switzerland 7-4.