First match today from the International Arena at Potters Resort in the ‘Just’ 2020 World Indoor Open Singles Championships it was Scotland’s ace, five time World Indoor Singles Champion, Paul Foster MBE facing up against World no 14, Mark Royal for a place in the Open Singles quarter finals. The match was outstanding and most would say the best match of the event so far with both players having to play the most incredible shots and drawing to millimetre precision.
Royal opened up the proceedings taking a double away in the first end but it was Foster that then took two singles in the next two ends. Royal then managed a hard double in end four and then they both hammered it out in the next two ends to take a single each, so end six finished at 3,5 to Royal. It was Royal that was pushing Foster to the limit and each took a single on the next two ends for Foster to be 4,6 down going into the final end. It was a great battle and Foster made it out the other end with a three to take the set 7,6.
Second set and it was Royal that came out playing simply outstandingly, making Foster fight for shots, which he did. Both players were playing to the limit and shots played were simply outstanding. By end six it was 3,4 to Royal, picking up a further two shots in end seven Royal pulled slightly ahead but again Foster closed the gap taking two shots back in end eight. Bit it was Royal that finished it off with a single on end nine 5,7. In the tie break it was Royal that managed to fight his way past Foster to take the first two ends and claim the match.