BOTH Alex Marshall and David Gourlay lived to fight another day Just Retirement World Indoor Singles championships as defending champion Darren Burnett and Paul Foster both bit the dust last night.

The day did not start well for the Scots with Burnett crashing to No.9 seed Greg Harlow 11-1, 11-1. "I just didn't feel focused. I wasn't in the zone and you can't win matches like that," he said. "I've had to deal with a lot this week, especially with my gran passing away and just didn't feel I was even on the green and didn't compete."

However, Marshall, a five-time record holder of this title, compensated for Burnett's uncharacteristically poor performance with an 11-4, 14-4, 2-1 win against No.4 seed Nicky Brett, while Gourlay, overcame Rob Paxton. World No.1 Paul Foster lost in straight sets to three-time winner Andy Thomson.