Beijing 2022: Great Britain's Team Muirhead beat Japan for women's curling gold - As it happened

Great Britain beat Japan for gold in the women’s curling event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

The gold medal match got underway at the National Aquatics Centre (aka ‘The Ice Cube’) at 09:05 Chinese Standard Time (CST) on Sunday (20 February).

Eve Muirhead British team dominated the opening half of the final, and didn't let it slip to claim the nation's first gold of these Games.

Here's how it all happened, end-by-end.

End 1 of 10 - GB have the last stone

Great Britain are using the yellow-coloured stones for this final, and they have the benefit of throwing the last stone in the first of the ten ends, known as 'the hammer'.

And they make it count! Britain open the scoring with 2 in the first end.

Score after first end: GB 2 Japan 0.

End 2 of 10 - Japan have last stone

What can Japan do to counter that excellent start from GB?

It's a repeat of the bronze battle at PyeongChang 2018, where Japan's Fujisawa Satsuki led her country to its first ever Olympic curling medal.

A clear-out with the penultimate stone from the Japanese skip sets them up up for a potential score of two themselves, but Muirhead's final effort is good, and ensures Japan can only get 1. Advantage GB.

Score after second end: GB 2 Japan 1.

End 3 of 10 - GB have last stone

The end is blanked. No score, which means GB will again throw the last stone in the next.

Score after third end: GB 2 Japan 1.

End 4 of 10 - GB have last stone

It's a tactical end, with stones scattered all around the scoring circles. Japan make a mistake with the penultimate stone, and it gives GB a chance to get another big score here. Eve Muirhead has a 92% accuracy so far. What can she do with her two stones to finish the end?

The British skip can't make it count, but they settle for a score of 1 to extend the lead again.

Score after fourth end: GB 3 Japan 1.

End 5 of 10 - Japan have last stone

This is the final end before the halftime break, and Japan will be aiming to make a statement here.

With 1 stone remaining it's in the balance, with Muirhead throwing a T-line shot to try and steal a score. GB have the two stones closest to the centre button. Japan to throw last, and could get a big score if they get this perfect, but they miss! GB steal a point going into the interval.

Score at half time, after fifth end: GB 4 Japan 1.

Both these teams had to come through the qualification to get here, and curling was the first Beijing 2022 sport to get underway, so this women's final is a culmination of a long journey. The final event in this sport at these Winter Olympic Games. Just five ends remain.

End 6 of 10 - Japan have last stone

The second half begins with GB throwing the first of their eight stones. The ice sheet is mopped at the interval so the granite curling stones slide a little further in this sixth end than towards the conclusion of the first half.

Japan are looking aggressive, throwing two corner guards in a clear display that they're trying to set up a big scoring opportunity here.

With IOC Thomas Bach watching on from the crowd, Britain keep up their good form from the first half, and restrict Japan to just one. It's an error from Japan skip Fujisawa Satsuki with their last stone, and GB will be happy to concede the 1, as it means they get the last stone in the seventh.

Score after sixth end: GB 4 Japan 2.

End 7 of 10 - GB have last stone

The Japanese need to try and steal here. GB are in total control of this gold medal final so far, but of course in curling one big end can change everything.

Remember the loser here will take the silver, but they want the gold, and these three ends will decide that.

The seventh could be crucial, and the Brits take their one timeout to discuss tactics with coach David Murdoch, who has an Olympic silver medal in the sport himself.

GB are in a position to score multiple points here, and Muirhead is perfect! They score 4 in the seventh end. That could win them the gold.

Score after seventh end: GB 8 Japan 2.

End 8 of 10 - Japan have last stone

That huge advantage means this could become the final end if GB steal again. But Japan have other ideas. A great draw with their penultimate stone puts them in position to score at least 1, maybe 2.

It's only 1. GB will be very happy with that, to keep a big lead with just two ends remaining.

Score after eighth end: GB 8 Japan 3.

End 9 of 10 - GB have last stone

GB in total control and have the hammer in this one. They also have some great play from Jenn Dodds, who just missed out on bronze in the mixed doubles event with partner Bruce Mouat at the start of these Olympics.

The Brits are clearing away any of the Japanese stones that are being left in scoring position. They're taking no risks.

GB score two and that's the win. It's now 10-3, which Japan can't match!!! Great Britain have gold!

There's no 10th end needed in this one. What a dominant display. Japan take silver after a brilliant Olympics. They were just beaten by a better team in the final.

British skip Muirhead has emulated Rhona Howie, then known as Rhona Martin, who won Britain’s previous curling gold at Salt Lake City 2002 as recalled in the Olympic Channel documentary film 'A Brilliant Curling Story'.

Fujisawa’s Japanese rink - known fondly as ‘Loco Solare’ - lost their round-robin clash to Britain earlier in the Games.

With a rink full of fresh faces, the Sochi 2014 bronze-winning GB skip Muirhead was aiming for redemption in her first Olympic final.

The British male team led by Bruce Mouat fell short against Sweden in Saturday's men’s final.

Schedule: How to watch the women’s curling gold medal match between Great Britain and Japan at Beijing 2022

The women’s curling final takes place at 09:05 CST on Sunday 20 February.

For those in Britain that is a start time of 01:05 GMT.

For those in Japan that is a start time of 10:05 JST.

To find out how and where you can watch the final, and all the action from the Winter Olympics in your region, click here.