Jason Banks from Scotland has been the name on everyone's lips this week. A rookie at these Championships two years ago, Banks has very quickly stamped his authority on this portable rink.
Two years ago, the 28-year-old Design Engineer was runner-up in the Open singles, and in a short space of time, at this year's Championships, he has already taken charge of two titles—the Open Pairs and Mixed Pairs with Michael Stepney and then Beth Riva.
In the last of the quarter-final games in the @Ambassador Cruise Line World Indoor Open Singles today (Friday 24th January) Banks beat five Open Singles champion Paul Foster MBE from Troon in Ayrshire, to keep his dream alive of a clean sweep of this season's WBT titles - which has never been done before.
His quarter-final was a double-sided game. Banks led the chase in the first set 10-4, but it was a different take in the second set, with Foster in charge all the way and only dropping two ends to win 10-3 and send the match into a three end decider.
World and Commonwealth champion, Foster took the first end and Banks took the jack to the ditch with his last bowl to win the second.
In the defining, winner-take-all all last end, the outcome changed with nearly every bowl. Banks held the match winner to a displaced jack. Foster played a perfectly timed last bowl, but in a cruel twist of fate, when he connected with the target the jack sprung out to the side and ended up rolling nearer to the Banks red bowl, and that gave Banks his passage into the semi-final.
His opponent will be twice former champion Mark Dawes, seeded 6. They will meet (Saturday 24th January) at 3pm. Two former winners are in the other half of the draw where Number 8 seed David Gourlay MBE faces Rob Paxton seeded 5 and they play off at 1pm.
The title will be down for decided on Sunday (26th January) at 2.30pm
RESULT
World Indoor Bowls Open Singles Quarter Finals - QF4
Jason Banks (Scot/7) beat Paul Foster (Scot/2) 2-1 (10-4, 3-10, 2-1)
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