Jamie Clarke wins the 2024 Zurich Snooker Open

Taking place across three days, the 11th edition of this pro-am tournament featured several professional players and a 5,000CHF prize fund.

A total of 48 entrants representing 11 different nations were initially split into round robin groups of four before the last 32 knockout phase on the Sunday.

World number 59 Clarke finished top of his group without losing a frame to qualify for the knockouts where he eliminated Paulo Martins (Portugal) 2-0 before making a 110 break in a 2-0 last 16 victory over Jenson Schmid (Switzerland).

The Welshman extended his unblemished record by top scoring with an 88 as he passed Jannick Kurzen (Switzerland) 3-0 in the quarter-finals.

In the last four, Clarke registered runs of 56 and 76 whilst denying home hero and fellow top tier exponent Alexander Ursenbacher, 3-1. Ursenbacher - winner of the recent Vienna Snooker Open - had defeated Nigel Bond 3-0 in the previous round.

Coming through the other side of the draw was Ukrainian Larkov, who enjoyed a memorable run to the final, booking his spot there with a 3-2 semi-final win against professional Ross Muir.

In the title match, Clarke crafted a break of 63 in the opening frame but lost it. With the aid of a 55 break in frame two, Larkov doubled his lead and threatened another upset.

However, two-time Crucible qualifier Clarke hit a trio of half-centuries in a four-frame winning streak as he emerged the victor and claimed the title.

Several century breaks were compiled during the event, with the highest being a 132 from Bond.

It is hoped that next year’s Zurich Open installment will be held in January.