A New Tier of Competition: Greenacres 2019
In December 2019, just eight months after their historic debut in Norway, the Saudi Arabian curling team arrived at the Greenacres Curling Club in Scotland. The landscape of international curling had shifted: the World Curling Federation introduced the inaugural World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event (WMDQE), a high-stakes tournament designed as a rigorous filter for the main World Championship.
en.wikipedia.org
For Suleiman Alaqel and Karrie Alaqel, this tournament wasn’t about making a debut anymore. It was about proving the Saudi program had staying power.
The Strategy: Maturing on the Ice
A debut is about showing up; the second appearance is about execution. Behind the scenes, Coach and Founder Alastair Fyfe continued to refine the team’s tactical approach. The mandate for Greenacres was clear: transition from simply surviving ends to actively challenging established curling nations.
Fyfe’s structured coaching and the team’s relentless dedication meant they weren’t starting from zero this time. They arrived in Scotland with international ice time under their belts, a sharper understanding of competitive strategy, and a more aggressive game plan.
Closing the Gap: The Scoreboard Tells the Story
The results in Greenacres proved that the experience gained in Stavanger was paying immediate dividends. The Saudi duo was no longer just fighting to put a single point on the board—they were pushing seasoned teams to the wire.
The competitive gap was closing rapidly. This was most evident in a fiercely contested match against Belgium, where the Saudi team fought end-for-end, narrowly missing victory in a stunning 6-7 finish. Similarly, they forced Brazil into a tight 5-8 battle. These weren’t just token points; they were tactical, hard-earned scores that signaled a massive leap in capability in less than a year.
Beyond the Debut: The Program Takes Root
Greenacres 2019 solidified a crucial reality: the Saudi curling program was not a one-off novelty. By returning to the world stage and drastically improving their competitive margins, Suleiman, Karrie, and Coach Fyfe proved that the foundation built in 2018 was strong enough to support real, sustained growth.
The debut phase was officially over. With the Scottish campaign behind them, the Saudi team established themselves as a maturing program, proving they have the grit and trajectory required to turn narrow losses into future victories.
Leave a Reply