With the main part of the competition starting tomorrow at the Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk, the opening stage which will decide the final places in the first round matches sees qualifiers battle for a spot in a round robin format.

In the men’s pairs, two spots are available in the first round with the preliminary games played over two sets of seven ends.

Out of the 10 matches on the opening day, five wins were recorded with New Zealand’s Andy McLean and Andrew Kelly, Canadians Mark Sandford and Dave Anderson, David Holt and Des Cann of Australia, Israeli duo Mali Reuven and Kobi Hadar and John McCullogh and Roy Battersby of Ireland scoring victories.

McLean and Kelly’s success came against Jerry NG and Timmy Lui of Hong Kong 8-4, 6-5 while Sandford and Anderson beat Cecil Behrens and Wade Ferguson of South Africa 7-6, 8-5.

Holt and Cann then saw off McLean and Kelly 12-5, 10-3 before Reuven and Hadar defeated Sandford and Anderson 6-5, 5-5.

McCullough and Battersby were the last pair to record a win, thrashing Behrens and Ferguson 15-4, 17-1.    

The other five games ended in 1-1 draws.

Holt and Cann drew 8-3, 4-7 with Tony Baer and Phil Dunn of the United States in the morning session, while McCullough and Battersby's game with Sandford and Anderson ended 7-6, 6-13.

Baer and Dunn also tied their other two games against McLean and Kelly, 9-6, 1-12, and NG and Lui 7-5, 3-11

In the day's other game, Behrens and Ferguson drew 9-8, 5-7 with Reuven and Hadar.

Along with the remaining pairs preliminary matches, the opening open singles prelims will also begin tomorrow.