Kelvin Kerkow was the sixth seed to lose in the first round of the Gravells Welsh Open on Monday –
puntinplay correctly tipped his conqueror Tim Stone at 7-4 – and Jason Greenslade may be the seventh as he takes on Nick Brett on Tuesday.
Welshman Greenslade won the Welsh Indoor Singles title on Monday by beating John Roberts, recovering from a set down to claim the crown, but he faces a different proposition in the highly-touted Brett.
Peterborough man Brett enjoyed a tremendous trip to Potters where he reached the semi-final of the World Indoor Singles, bowing out to Stewart Anderson, and some of his performances there were out of the top drawer. He's 11-10 with Skybet and Ladbrokes to dump the seventh seed out and that looks a gamble worth taking especially with doubts surrounding Greenslade's form on the World Bowls Tour.
The other first round clash sees Mervyn King face Roberts, who qualified for the competition by reaching the Welsh final, but on yesterday's evidence World Matchplay champion King should have too much class for the local favourite at 1-3.
Last year, Billy Jackson travelled to Swansea with the added pressure of being world champion, but he has no such cross to bear this time around as he encounters Irishman JONATHAN ROSS in the second round.
Jackson disappointingly bowed out in the second round at Potters to Hirendra Bhartu, but he regained some confidence with victory over American qualifier Philip Dunn, but he could meet his match in Ross.
Ross needs ranking points to stay in the top 16 and he produced an enigmatic display to beat Andy Thomson, which followed up his run to the quarter-final at Potters and he looks an enticing punt at 11-10 with Ladbrokes.
ROBERT WEALE loves his home event having reached at least the last-eight stage in nine of his 12 appearances, although he has yet to win, losing three times in the final.
His opponent on Tuesday is Zvikar Hadar, who produced one of the biggest shocks in recent times in knocking out world champion Greg Harlow. After beating Harlow, Israeli will be up for this one and at 4-1 (Betfred) will have his followers, but Weale is a tough cookie in Swansea and I just can't see Hadar producing another huge performance.
That leaves the big clash of the day, the all-Scottish affair clash between Alex Marshall and DARREN BURNETT.
Marshall, who hates this event, was very nearly the victim of a giant-killing himself as he lost the first set to veteran Irishman David Corkill – who is better known now as commentator – before pulling his finger out and edging through on a tie-break.
Burnett had no such problems against Canada's Bhartu and the Dundee bobby – puntinplay's 20-1 ante-post selection looks too good to miss at 11-8 with Betfred in the day's final match.
Like Ross, Burnett also needs a good run to ensure a place in the top 16 and I think he has the beating of Marshall who rarely turns it on away from the safety of Potters. Tattie has also been eliminated by the second round stage six times in the last seven years and I cannot understand how the bookies have made him favourite for this encounter when quite clearly Burnett is playing the better bowls.
