The calendar may still read August, but competitive, top-level curling has already begun.
Baden, Switzerland hosted the annual Baden Masters this past weekend as the Swiss foursome led by Yannick Schwaller claimed victory over Joel Retornaz and his new-look rink from Italy in the championship game, 8-3.
The difference in the final came late when Schwaller scored three in the sixth end before stealing two more in the seventh.
Team Schwaller, who finished third at the Winter Olympics in February and are currently ranked fourth in the world, went 4-1 in the round robin before defeating Switzerland’s Team Marco Hoesli in the quarter-final and Italy’s Team’s Stefano Spiller in the semifinal.
The veteran Geneva foursome is rounded out by fourth Benoit Schwarz-van Berkel, second Sven Michel, lead Pablo Lachat-Couchepin and Canadian coach Glenn Howard.
In addition to capturing Olympic bronze, the 31-year-old Schwaller also won his first Grand Slam last season, taking the Canadian Open in December.
Team Schwaller were one of the few top rinks in curling to remain intact this off-season as another quadrennial came to end.
Some of the biggest changes came in Italy as the national program completed a full shakeup of their teams.
Retornaz, 42, is now leading third Stefano Gilli, second Andrea Gilli and lead Alberto Pimpini while the 21-year-old Spiller, a world junior champion in 2025, is skipping third Amos Mosaner and second Sebastiano Arman, formerly of Team Retornaz, as well as brother and lead Cesare Spiller.
Both sides went 4-1 in the round robin and earned byes to the semifinals where Team Retornaz defeated Norway’s Team Magnus Ramsfjell as Spiller and company were eliminated by Schwaller’s rink.
