Stewart Anderson is through to round two in the open singles ©Getty Images

Past champions Stewart Anderson and Paul Foster both won their opening matches at the World Indoor Bowls Championships.

Scot Anderson, indoor singles world champion in 2013 and 2019, won the first set against England's Andrew Walters 10-4.

However, Walters fought back to win the second 9-8 and force a tiebreak at Potters Leisure Resort in Great Yarmouth in England.

Anderson, seeded third, won that 2-0 to keep his hopes of a third world indoor singles title alive.

Wales' Daniel Salmon will face Anderson in round two after a 6-6, 10-6 win over Jamie Chestney of England, who was the 14th seed.

Paul Foster has won four Commonwealth Games gold medals ©Getty Images
Paul Foster has won four Commonwealth Games gold medals ©Getty Images

Foster, another Scottish player and a five-time indoor singles world champion, defeated Sam Barkley of Northern Ireland 12-2, 11-7.

The day's other match was a tight affair between Wayne Willgress of England and Scotland's Michael Stepney.

It finished 8-7, 2-8, 2-1 in favour of Willgress, who will face Foster in the next round.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic there are no players from outside of Britain playing in the event.