Thomas Duncan
BBC Scotland in Beijing

Japan have taken a score of four for a 5-2 lead in the other semi-final against Switzerland.

That's a real shock because the Swiss are double world champions and topped the round-robin standings.

There's a big Japanese media contingent here to watch, and some supporters too, who are making plenty of noise when things go well.

It's a game of fine margins. And Anna Hasselborg's stone ejects its British counterpart, but spits out of contention itself.

Just the two for Sweden, but that opens up some space on the scoreboard.

Eve Muirhead's final stone comes up just short of perfection.

And perfection was what she needed.

That yellow stone of hers is lying second. And is looking vulnerable to Anna Hasselborg...

Deep breath everyone. Sweden shooting for three...

Huge pressure on Eve Muirhead here.

Get this right and she might limit the losses to one.

Get it wrong and Sweden will have a shot for three.

Eve Muirhead first effort is ushered out of the four foot red circle by some frantic Swedish brushwork.

Just a bit too much spice on that meatball.

A rueful shake of the head from Muirhead. Sweden lie one.

Now then, Sweden overcook their third-from-last stone.

Eve Muirhead slides back up the action end with intent.

Is there a chance of another steal here...

Image source, Getty Images

Some good news if you're a fan both of curling and having a bit of a lie-in.

Saturday's men's curling final, between Great Britain and Sweden, has been put back 45 minutes at the request of European broadcasters.

It means the match will now start at 06:45 GMT. And if you're in the UK, you'll be able to watch it live on the BBC.

Right, this is only the first part of a double-header of British-Swedish curling madness.

Tomorrow the men's teams will be broom to broom for gold.

And there is breaking news that will affect your alarm call for that...

BBC co-commentator Jackie Lockhart with the breaking news from inside the British camp.

Apparently Hayley Duff's father, who was due to be playing a match of his own while this one was going on, had had his game rearranged to allow him to watch.

Fatherly love.

The second men's ice hockey semi-final is under way, with Sweden taking defending champions the Russian Olympic Committee.

The winners go through to play Finland in Sunday's gold medal match.

The Fins beat Slovakia 2-0 earlier this morning to reach their first men's Olympic ice hockey final in 16 years.

Rhona Howie
Olympic gold medallist curler on BBC TV

My goodness Britain have really fought back hard and they've not done anything too clever they've just played their shots well, put their stones in good position and forced errors from Sweden.

Image source, Getty Images

Sweden's Canadian coach tells his team to "trust the broom". I don't know what it means, but it sounds very wise. Like Mr Miyagi on ice.

Right, sixth end coming in like a swift skidding lump of granite.

Jake Hill: Absolutely no idea on the rules but every 4 years I get obsessed with the curling. Come on Team Muirhead.

Joanna Bacon: I don't understand curling but it's addictive tv.

Phew. This is intense. Grab a brew, quick sharp.

This could still be anyone's end.

Hasselborg has not been at her best but sends down a nicely-weighted stone.

It's not enough to nick a point but Britain do get the steal.

Halfway through the semi-final and it's all square. Tight and tense!

Eve Muirhead brings out the bouncer. A burly one to stand on the door of the house. No Swedish stones allowed is the policy.

Britain stand three but Anna Hasselborg could still nick one if she evades the guard...

Ooh! A mistake from Anna Hasselborg leaves Britain lying three with the final stones to go...

Over to Eve Muirhead then. Two British stones are inside the four-footer and the first skip stone bundles one of them - and a Swedish red - out of the house.

Muirhead grimaces with a look of wryness. Two British stones still there but prime for being picked off by Anna Hasselborg...

Down to the final few stones and the fifth end is delicately poised.

A lovely shot from Vicki Wright is perfectly judged, line and length as they say in golf, muscling into the middle of the house.

Could be difficult for the Swedes to throw out...

Image source, Getty Images

We are getting down to the pairs big guns.

China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong won silver in PyeongChang and are the big home hope.

Their biggest rivals are likely to come for Russia. World champions Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Gallimov,Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morosov, who have twice been runners-up at the World Championships, and Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitri Kozlovskii, who won bronze at last year’s World Championships.

Top 16 go through to tomorrow's final.