The remaining two matches on Day 12 of the @Ambassador World Indoor Bowls Championships were Round 2 games in the Open Singles, where former champions Rob Paxton and Les Gillett both prevailed over Scottish opposition in straight sets.
2020 Champion Paxton, who stands at number 5 on the World Bowls Tour Ranking List, was the first to note his intent. He played some telling shots to overcome 2014 title holder Darren Burnett, seeded 12 9-5, 7-6.
Burnett held a set lie in the first set, but Paxton eliminated that idea and won 9-5, and in the second set, it was difficult to know what the outcome would be, with both players playing equally well.
Paxton's count of three plus a double on the opening two ends were instrumental in carrying him through 7-6, and taking his place in the quarter-finals on Friday 24th January on BBC Television at 1 pm.
Number 4 seed Les Gillett, the champion in 2022 also stays in the frame and will provide the opposition for Paxton.
Gillett got off to a great start against number 13 seed from Scotland, Michael Stepney, the newly crowned Open Pairs champion, forging 6-0 ahead after just three ends.
Fast forward two ends later, a further treble gave him a 9-3 advantage with just four ends remaining and he ultimately took the set 10-7.
In the second, the scores were equal at 2-2 after four ends, but Stepney failed to score again, with the man from Nottingham chalking up four singles and a double to take the set and the match 8-2 with an end in hand, to set up his quarter-final head to head against Paxton.
RESULT
(Tuesday 21st January 2025)
WORLD OPEN SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP Round 2
Rob Paxton (Eng/5) beat Darren Burnett (Scot/12) 2-0 (9-5, 7-6)
Les Gillett (Eng/4) beat Michael Stepney (Scot/13) 2-0 (10-7, 8-2)
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