The Scots have recovered from opening defeats by seven-time champion Niklas Edin’s Swedes and Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi’s Japanese.

Since then, only John Shuster’s US have finished within two shots of the Scots as they have reeled off seven big scores, with Xu Xiaoming’s Chinese, ranked 12th in the world, the latest victims.

Following on from Tuesday’s 10-4 defeat of Germany, Whyte’s rink never looked back after stealing one at the opening end.

However, it was scoring five at the sixth end, to take an 8-3 lead, that was the pivotal moment as the Chinese suffered a sixth defeat out of nine.

The Swiss warmed up for their meeting with the Scots with a 9-2 defeat of South Korea to head the table along with the Swedes, both of whom have won eight and lost two of their matches.

Matt Dunstone’s Canadians and the Scots have seven wins and two defeats before their final games on Wednesday.

Stefano Spiller’s Italy rink have seven wins and three defeats along with the USA.

Whyte – along with Robin Brydone, Euan Kyle and Craig Waddell – are representing Scotland after Mouat’s world number one rink elected not to compete after their silver medal at the Olympics in Cortina this year.

With Canada’s Olympic champion, Brad Jacobs, and Switzerland’s Yannick Schwaller similarly sitting this one out, fourth-ranked Dunstone and Whyte, in fifth, are the top-ranked teams competing in the United States.

Shuster is eighth, Edin is currently ranked 13, with Hoesli in 18th and Spiller in 43rd, while Scotland’s next opponents, Norway’s Haarstad, are down in 49th.