Stone rose to the fringes of the world's top 20 players in 2010

Tim Stone upset the odds for the third year in a row to reach the second round of the World Indoor Bowls Championship.

The Acle bowler beat former champion David Gourlay in a deciding set at Potters in Hopton, 9-8 8-10 1-2.

Wildcard entry Stone told BBC Radio Norfolk: "I'm absolutely chuffed to bits to be honest.

"I got off to a slow start but managed to turn it round and force the tie-breaker, then managed to play a winning shot at the end."

Stone was 9-0 down in the first set but recovered to be one shot away from sharing the set, only to lose 9-8.

He then went on to take the second set thanks to a four-shot bowl in the penultimate end and won the game on the final shot of the tie-break.

Fellow Norfolk player and former world champion Mervyn King is also through to round two after beating Scotland's John Candlish 10-4 5-5.

Stone reached the second round at Potters in 2009, losing to King, and again in 2010, losing to five-time champion Alex Marshall.

Marshall is Stone's likely opponent once again this year, if he overcomes a first-round encounter with Englishman Glenn Skipp.

"He just seems to love this venue, he's had such success here at Potters, I played Alex last year and hopefully will be able to get revenge," said Stone.

Stone says he is learning to cope with the pressure of the big stage.

"I've now had two or three games here at Potters and at other events on the World Bowls Tour, so I'm getting to grips with playing on the portable rink.

"I seem to be relaxing, although I wouldn't have said that after three-or-four ends of the match today," he said.

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