Entertainment value? Yes. Drama? Check. Stakes? You bet. 

The gold and bronze medal wheelchair curling mixed doubles games, which featured China vs. South Korea and the United States vs. Latvia respectively delivered. And then some. 

China wins gold, cements its mixed doubles legacy 

Leading 7-3 after six ends, China appeared to be cruising toward Paralympic glory. South Korea fought back, though, collecting three points in the seventh and stealing one in the eighth to force extra ends.

With hammer, China demonstrated why they’ve been the best team all tournament long, executing clutch take-outs and draws to collect a deuce and a gold, winning 9-7.

Of course, South Korea didn't leave empty-handed. They received silver for their valiant efforts.

It was a fitting conclusion to the Paralympic debut of the event: two powerhouse squads delivering elite shot-making and putting on a memorable show. 

China will forever be known as the first wheelchair curling mixed doubles gold medal winner.

United States loses heartbreaker to Latvia

Agris Lasmans and Polina Rozkova of Latvia knocked off the United States 11-10 in a match that featured five lead changes and three ends with at least four points score. Oh, and it took an extra end to declare a winner. 

"It was a heavyweight fight,” Steve Emt of the U.S. said afterwards. “We just went nine rounds with world champs from a couple years ago.”

Emt and his teammate Laura Dwyer landed the first haymaker, putting a four-spot on the board in the opening end to take a commanding 4-0 lead. It’d be tough to script a better start.

As they wound up doing multiple times throughout the game, Latvia took the hit, got right back up and punched back even harder, collecting five points in the second with the use of an early power play. The score was 5-4.

Emt and Dwyer struggled with their accuracy through the first four ends, posting lower shooting percentages than their averages across the tournament. The conclusion of the fourth was a microcosm of the trend. Dwyer had an opportunity to execute a draw with hammer to snag a deuce in the frame, but overshot it slightly.

Instead of a tied score, the U.S. trailed 6-5.

In the fifth, Latvia tallied another point to increase their lead to 7-5. That’s when the U.S. elected to use their power play. Like Latvia, the decision altered the complexion of the match.

Rozkova and Lasmans sailed their first two stones of the sixth end out of play, which left the door open for Emt and Dwyer.

Off the strength of four beautifully placed draw and guard shots, the Americans were able to score four points (again!) and regain the advantage, 9-7.

Still, the Latvians wouldn’t fold. They rose to the occasion and fired back with three points of their own in the seventh to lead 10-9.

In the eighth and (typically) final end, Emt, with his team's second-to-last stone, pulled off arguably his best throw of the game. The U.S. had shot rock, and Emt delivered a draw that gradually bumped it back, but not too far, so that his stone slid into the button and the Americans’ other stayed close by.

The U.S. was lying two closest to the pin. A victory was in sight.

With one last opportunity, Lasmans needed to draw, and land his stone in the house almost perfectly. He did just that, curling it with precision and under immense pressure so that the rock was second closest to the button.

The shot was so spectacular, so game-saving and under such duress. It’s the reason why Emt’s previous throw could only be considered the best of his game rather than the game.

Dwyer’s final stone barely missed left, and the match was tied once again. An extra end would decide the bronze medalist.

Playing without the hammer this time, the United States put pressure on Latvia, executing three draws with their first three stones.

With the eighth rock, Lansman again came to the rescue. He found the pin, the absolute center of the house, while pushing an American stone out. Dwyer had a chance to counter, but again came up just short.

“It's a game of inches. A couple things, a couple inches in a different way, it'd be a different story,” an emotional Dwyer said afterwards. “These would be tears of real happiness, instead of tears of sadness for, you know, the miss that this is."

Latvia picked up the point and the bronze — the first Winter Paralympic medal in the nation’s history.

The Americans fought hard to the finish, their resilience never wavered. Still, it was a heartbreaking loss, and true to form, Emt was candid about it.

“This one’s going to hurt for a while.”