Defending Champion and world number one David Gourlay crashed out of the Bupa Care Homes Open at Blackpool in straight sets to England's Andy Thomson.

And it was also a bad day for Gourlay's fellow Scots, both Alex Marshall and Scott Kennedy losing out in a bad week for those from north of the Border.

Anglo-Scot Thomson turned the tables when it counted and moved though to Thursday's quarter-final encounter with Australian qualifier Alan Thurlow after his 11-4, 9-1 win over Gourlay.

The defending champion said: "I'm not too disappointed.

"It was a tall order to contend five consecutive finals.

Through to the semis

"Credit where it's due, Andy was in top form and, anytime I looked like getting anything, he always got in there, especially in the second last end in the first set."

Thomson said: "I played basically two or three big shots and they came off for me, so I'm delighted.

"I was definitely the underdog, but I felt the format really does help.

"Anything can really happen in a few ends, while over the long games you would expect the better player to come through."

Also through to the quarter-finals are Ian Bond, Jason Greenslade, with City of Ely's Greg Harlow, the first player to move through to the semis on Saturday.

Exeter's Ian Bond moved through to play John Price after the Crediton man beat off the challenge of Scottish qualifier Kennedy.

Greenslade counted with the last bowl in the shoot-out to beat second seed Marshall.

The twelfth seed from Wales said: "Alex is one of the best in the world, so I'm really pleased."

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Results:

Jason Greenslade (12) (Wales) beat Alex Marshall (2) (Scot) 7-1 9-5, 1/0; Ian Bond (15) (Eng) beat Scott Kennedy (Sco) 5-4, 2-8, 1/0; Andy Thomson (14) (Eng) beat David Gourlay (1) (Sco) 11-4,9-1.

Quarter-finals: Greg Harlow (Eng) beat Mark McMahon (10) (Eng) 7-5, 5-4, 1/0.

Friday's quarter-finals:

John Price (3) (Wales) v Ian Bond (15) (Eng); Andy Thomson (14) (Eng) v Alan Thurlow (Australia); Robert Weale (5) (Wales) v Jason Greenslade (12) (Wales).