Pete Fenson's American team handed Brazil a 10-4 loss in opening action of the Americas Challenge Saturday afternoon at the Grafton Curling Club in Grafton, N.D.
Fenson's team is playing in a best three-out-of-five competition against Brazil to determine which nation receives the second North American berth at the 2010 World Men's Championship in April in Italy.
Bemidji's Fenson is playing with 2006 Olympic teammates Shawn Rojeski of Chisholm, Joe Polo of Duluth, and Tyler George of Duluth.
Brazil is challenging the U.S. for the second straight year for a berth at worlds. Todd Birr's team defeated the same team from Brazil last year in three straight matches.
Canada, which placed higher than the U.S. at last year's world championship, automatically earned the first North American berth.
