John Shuster's Heroic Shot Propels USA to Win Over Scotland at KIOTI National

John Shuster delivered a dramatic last-shot in-off takeout in the eighth end to score three points and secure a 6-3 victory for his American team over Scotland’s Team Bruce Mouat during Draw 8 on Wednesday at the KIOTI National. The electrifying shot had the Mary Brown’s Centre crowd buzzing and handed world No. 1 Mouat his first loss of the season in the Grand Slam of Curling.

Mouat, who had been unbeaten in previous tournaments—including back-to-back titles at the HearingLife Tour Challenge and the Co-op Canadian Open—had opened the KIOTI National with a 7-4 win over fellow Scot James Craik on Tuesday. But Shuster's clutch performance in the eighth end was enough to break Mouat's perfect run.

"We’ve played a lot of really good games this year," said Shuster, who won bronze at last month's Pan Continental Championships. "I think we’ve had a bit of bad luck here and there, like not qualifying in the first Slam due to a burnt last rock. At the Pan Continental, we played really well, but in the last Slam, with me being sick and a bit worn down, we didn’t play our best. But today, we put together a solid game, and it was great to have the hammer coming home."

Shuster, whose team now sits at 1-1 in the tournament, admitted he preferred a more straightforward shot to win the game but relished the challenge of making the clutch in-off. "If I get the chance to throw a shot to win, I love doing that for my teammates," he added.

The crowd’s energy was palpable as Shuster lined up the shot, with thousands of fans roaring in support. "It was super fun hearing the crowd cheer, especially when I was about to throw that shot," he said. "We’ve felt the love here in Newfoundland. It’s not something you always get in Canada, especially when you’re playing against local favorites. It’s been amazing to have that support."

Meanwhile, Scotland's Craik secured his first win of the tournament with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Italy’s Team Joël Retornaz. Despite having to play without the hammer in the eighth end, Craik executed a perfect freeze to put Retornaz in a tough spot. Retornaz’s attempt to double off Craik's stone came up short, giving Craik the steal to clinch the win.

"Oh my gosh, what a game," Craik said. "The crowd was electric, and we really fed off of that energy. These Slams mean a lot to us, and we’re fighting hard to stay in the competition."

Craik also praised the supportive crowd, which cheered for all players. "This is the biggest arena we’ve ever played in, and the biggest crowd we’ve seen at a curling event like this. It’s super exciting to be a part of it."

Brad Jacobs, Niklas Edin Keep Rolling

In other action, Team Brad Jacobs from Calgary improved to 2-0 with a 5-4 win over Team Magnus Ramsfjell of Norway. Jacobs scored three points in the eighth end to edge out the Norwegians, who dropped to 0-2 and now face a must-win match in their next round-robin game to stay in playoff contention.

Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin stole a 8-4 victory over Winnipeg’s Team Matt Dunstone. Edin, who scored one in the first, two in the second, and finished the game with three points in the seventh, improved to 1-1, while Dunstone also holds a 1-1 record.

As the KIOTI National continues, the competition remains fierce, with players like Shuster, Jacobs, and Edin aiming to secure their spots in the playoff rounds. With a raucous crowd providing extra energy and plenty of dramatic moments, the tournament is shaping up to be an exciting ride to the finish.