The Championship division was contested from April 24 to May 10, 2009. Participants in this tournament were placed into groups of four with the top three teams in each group advancing to the qualifying round. Teams which finished last in the group were sent to the relegation round where the top bottom teams were relegated to the 2010 Division I tournament. Within the qualifying round teams where split into two groups of six with the top four advancing to the playoff round and the bottom two eliminated from advancing. The playoff round was a knockout stage towards the gold medal game. The Championship was played in Bern and Kloten, Switzerland. Russia won the gold medal game, defeating Canada 2–1. Although Austria and Hungary were relegated to Division I for 2010.[1] After being out of the Championship division for 70 years Hungary was promoted only to be demoted again for the 2010 competition.
Division I was contested from April 11 to April 17, 2009. Participants in this tournament were separated into two separate tournament groups. The Group A tournament was contested in Vilnius, Lithuania. Group B's games were played in Toruń, Poland. Kazakhstan and Italy finished atop of Group A and Group B respectively, gaining promotion to the 2010 Championship division. Although Australia finished last in Group A and Romania last in Group B and were relegated to Division II for 2010.[2][3]
Final standings
Group A
Kazakhstan — promoted to Championship pool for 2010
Division II was contested from April 6 to April 13, 2009. Participants in this tournament were separated into two separate tournament groups. The Group A tournament was contested in Novi Sad, Serbia. Group B's games were played in Sofia, Bulgaria. Serbia and South Korea finished atop of Group A and Group B respectively, gaining promotion to Division I for 2010. Although North Korea finished last in Group A and South Africa last in Group B and were relegated to Division III for 2010.[4][5]
