FIVE TIMES CHAMPION BATTLES THROUGH

Scotland's Paul Foster MBE kept himself in the frame for the Ambassador Cruise Line World Indoor Bowls Open Singles title after winning a high quality 1st Round match against former WBT top sixteen ranked player Jamie Chestney, by 1-5 - 0.5 sets and a shot scoreline of 8-8, 10-7.

It was a fascinating exchange, with Foster opting for the shorter jack length and Chestney's choice verging on full length. While the Scot was content to stick to his solid draw game, time and time again, Chestney was forced into playing a procession of precision running shots, which turned score lines in his favour.

Foster led 5-1 after four ends in the opening set but three ends later it was all square at 5-5.

A loose end from Chestney saw the world-ranked number 2 Foster pick up a timely count of 3 to take an 8-5 lead playing the last end.

However, in a dramatic twist, Chestney played a stunning take-out shot with his last bowl, counting a treble to share the set at 8-8 and as Foster admitted later "Jamie played a shot out of this world. It was only inches away from chalking up a full house that would have given him the verdict".

The second set wasn't quite as close, with Foster careful of the consequences of playing a wayward bowl, knowing that Chestney would punish him.

Five times a winner of this title, Foster opened up a seven-shot gap to go 10-3 ahead with just two ends remaining, which left Chestney requiring a minimum of seven shots to draw the set or two full counts of four would have seen him over the finishing line.

However that scenario never played out as he only rolled in a treble and single to wrap the set up at 10-7, and it was the taxi driver from Troon in Ayrshire who progressed to the 2nd Round, where he will play Aussie qualifier Darren Rowland on Thursday 23rd January at 3pm.

RESULT

WORLD OPEN SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP Round One

(Monday 20th January 2025)

Paul Foster MBE (Scot / 2) beat Jamie Chestney (Eng) 2-0 (8-8, 10-7)