Twos were wild for Canada's duo as they began play Tuesday, March 11, at the World Wheelchair Curling Mixed Doubles championships in Stevenston, Scotland.
Ina Forrest of Spallumcheen, and partner Mark Ideson of London, Ont., scored deuces in the first, second, and eighth and final end, to go along with a single point in the sixth, to score a 7-5 win over Italy in Canada's first game in Pool B.
The Italians dropped to 0-2.
Forrest and Ideson, hoping to earn a berth for Canada at the 2026 Paralympics in Italy, jumped out to a 2-0 lead with the hammer in the first end, then bumped that advantage to 4-0 with a steal of two in the second.
Italy bounced back with a deuce of their own in the third end, then stole single points in the fourth and fifth end, to set the stage for a dramatic final three ends.
The two countries exchanged singles with Canada securing the win with the final stone in the eighth to score the pair.
Canada and Czechia will enter play Wednesday atop Pool B at 1-0, and will face each other in the second draw of the day at 6 a.m. Pacific time. Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland are all 1-1.
Forrest and Ideson will take on Latvia Wednesday at 1 p.m. Pacific.
Team Canada is one of 21 countries with its sights set on a Paralympics spot.
Canada is currently seventh in the Paralympic qualification standings, with only seven spots remaining as the host nation, Italy, already qualifies.
Forrest is one of the world鈥檚 most decorated wheelchair curlers, named to the national team in 2006. Her participation at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games would mark her 20th year wearing the Maple Leaf and aiming to add another medal to her already impressive collection of two gold and two bronze Paralympic medals for Canada.
Ideson takes the international ice for the 13th time representing Canada, highlighted by a gold medal at the 2014 Paralympic Games and bronze medals in 2018 and 2022.
