Welsh teenager Ross Owen has become the player to watch after he knocked reigning world champ Paul Foster out of the tournament in the first round.

BBC cameras were on hand to broadcast the surprise result, and the electrifying match is tipped to help boost the sport’s popularity. Owen, 18, told the Eastern Daily Press: “I knew that if I played like I can, I could match these guys, but I was nervous at the start, and dropped three shots on the first end.”

Foster will be bitterly disappointed with the loss, as a victory at this year’s tournament would have seen him equal the record of five-time World Champion Alex Marshall, but the bowls star was magnanimous in defeat, telling the EDP:

“I’m extremely disappointed to lose, but Ross, like a lot of youngsters, showed no fear, and played really well. He played two massive bowls, both when I was holding three shots. Once he ditched the jack, and the other time he drew the shot – and on yet another occasion I was unlucky to give the shot away.”

This year’s tournament is tipped to raise the sport’s profile, and nail-biting games like this make it easy to see why more and more Britons are discovering Indoor Bowls.