GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Craig Brown's take-out shot on the final rock of the 10th end lifted the United States to an 8-6 victory over Norway today in the opening draw of the 2008 World Men's Curling Championship.

The 12 qualifiers play round-robin through Thursday.

Leading 7-6 after nine ends, but with Norway poised to pick up four points in the 10th, the U.S. skip put his final shot online, taking out the Norwegian stone and securing a two-point win.

The Brown Rink, of Madison, Wis., continues round-robin play on Sunday, taking on the Czech Republic in the morning draw and defending world champion Scotland in the evening.

The Czech Republic stole two points in the fourth end and beat Scotland 7-5 in nine ends in the opening draw. In other games, France beat China 7-2 in nine ends and Germany defeated Sweden 9-8.

The U.S. and Thomas Ulsrud's Norwegian team were tied at two after four ends, but Brown scored three in the fifth end to go up 5-2.

Ulsrud, who was third in the 2006 world championships, kept it close with two in the sixth.

After a scoreless seventh, Brown scored two points with a double raise on the last rock of the eighth end to give the United States a 7-4 lead.

Norway closed within 7-6 with two in the ninth, setting up the dramatic finish.

Brown is skipping his first team at worlds since 2000, when he finished fourth.