Alina Pätz and her new-look Swiss rink got off on the right foot in their first event as a foursome.
Zurich’s Team Pätz defeated Team Xenia Schwaller, the reigning women’s world champions, in the Euro Super Series final by a score of 8-5 on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Pätz is skipping her own rink this season following Silvana Tirinzoni’s retirement at the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.
Pätz won four of her six world titles and last year’s Olympic silver medal playing alongside Tirinzoni as a fourth.
Former Team Tirinzoni lead Selina Witschonke plays third on Pätz’s new squad as does second Stefanie Berset and lead Renée Frigo.
At the Euro Super Series in Stirling, Scotland, Pätz and company went 3-1 during preliminary round play before defeating Switzerland’s Team Corrie Huerlimann in the quarter-final and Italy’s Team Giulia Zardini Lacedelli in the semifinal on their way to the championship game.
Team Schwaller, led by their 23-year-old skip Xenia, were 6-0 in the bonspiel before falling to Team Pätz in the final.
Team Yannick Schwaller Wins Again
On the men’s side of the draw, Team Yannick Schwaller won their second straight event by defeating Scotland’s Team Grant Hardie, 8-2, in the final of the Euro Super Series.
Team Schwaller won all six of their games in Stirling.
Schwaller’s rink beat Italy’s Team Joel Retornaz in the Baden Masters final last weekend.
Hardie is skipping his own team of fourth Ross Whyte, second Craig Waddell and lead Euan Kyle this season after a long and successful run with Bruce Mouat.
Team Hardie played well, winning its four preliminary round games before topping Italy’s Team Stefano Spiller in the semi-final.
Team Mouat and Sweden’s Team Oskar Eriksson both missed the playoffs with 2-2 records.
Other Winners
Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic (Men) - Takumi Maeda
Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic (Women) - Miku Nihira
