In a low scoring contest in the Tsukisamu Stadium, the Swiss side, all making their debut in the competition, edged a tight match thanks largely to a superb last stone from skip Alina Paetz.

In the tenth end, Canada had three stones around the button but this did not phase Paetz, who drew her shot inside them all to seal a superb triumph for her team, which also included third Nadine Lehmann, Marisa Winkelhausen and lead Nicole Schwaegli, as well as alternate Carole Howald.

The Canadian outfit, made up of Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, lead Dawn McEwen, alternate Jennifer Clark-Rouire and skipped by the formidable Jennifer Jones, had to settle for silver after they suffered their third defeat to Switzerland at the tournament.

Russia ended the competition on a high as they claimed the bronze medal with a commanding 13-4 win over Scotland.

The Swiss team were made to work hard in a tense final against Canada before they ground out a 5-3 win in Japan ©WCF



The day however belonged to the Swiss side, who finished top of the round-robin group stage with an impressive record of 10 wins and one defeat before eventually going on to claim the title.

"This is our first time here and it's just amazing," Paetz said.

"It's a really, really great feeling.

"I think both teams were nervous at the start of the game because both skips struggled a bit, but my team played great and it was easy for me at the end, that was the key.

"I don't think my family and friends back home will believe it, like me."

Olympic champions Canada had to settle for silver after a 5-3 defeat to Switzerland ©WCF



In truth, the eagerly-anticipated contest between the two of the world's best did not quite carry the sparkle he crowd inside the Stadium expected, but it nonetheless proved to be a fascinating affair.

The first end was perhaps unsurprisingly blanked as there was more than a tinge of tension in the air, before Paetz claimed a solitary point in the second to edge Switzerland ahead.

They then doubled their advantage in the third end which gave them some breathing space, and the next two ends were again blanked which heaped the pressure on Canada.

That seemed to show as Jones attempted to get her side on the board but her stone was heavy, allowing Switzerland to steal two for a 4-0 lead.

Jones did hit back though as in the seventh end she claimed two points of her own which halved the deficit, and the comeback looked well and truly on when they closed the gap to 4-3 going into the final end.

But Switzerland held their nerve to seal their second successive title.

Their victory also saw them leapfrog Sweden into second place on the World Curling Federation (WCF) women's rankings behind Canada.

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