John Lowe is the man nobody wants to meet in the Betfred.com League of Legends – even though he has lost all three of his matches so far.
'Old Stoneface' is bottom of the table after being hit by double trouble, with problems on the checkouts having left him with a mountain to climb to reach the top four who will contest the semi-finals.
But his rivals are keen to avoid the 62-year-old from Chesterfield, for they believe it is only a matter of time before Lowe shows his true colours and takes out his frustration on one of them with an emphatic victory.
Peter Evison is next up for him when the competition resumes in Batley on July 18 and both Bob Anderson and Keith Deller expect the real John Lowe to turn up at the West Yorkshire venue.
Anderson, who won 7-2 against Lowe on night two in Blackburn, said: "John is a true legend of the game and I'm glad I'm not playing him next time because he is so capable and such a wonderful player.
"His pride won't allow him to be the only player without a win for much longer. Someone will pay for that big time and I'm really glad it's not me because I've already played him!"
Deller inflicted Lowe's third consecutive loss in Birmingham last week when prevailing 7-4. He added: "I think John could have won two of his three matches. I don't think his record is a fair reflection of how he has been playing. When you have lost your first two matches and then you start missing doubles, those doubles start to look very small."
Both Anderson and Deller are on course to reach the last four having won two of their three contests so far and are being tipped by some shrewd judges to battle it out in the final, even though Dave Whitcombe tops the table with a 100% record.
Anderson, the 1988 world champion, has dropped only four legs since his opening 6-6 draw with Evison, and now has the chance of ending Whitcombe’s perfect start when they go head to head in Batley.
"I'm playing well and growing in confidence," said the 60-year-old 'Limestone Cowboy'. "Those who play me know they will have to play better than they have played already or else they will be walking out to the car park kicking stones."
Deller is also feeling upbeat and, in a repeat of his classic 1983 World Championship final triumph, he aims to make it three out of four against his close friend but fierce rival Eric Bristow.
"Eric is next on my hit list and if I beat him I should be pretty close to qualifying," said the 48-year-old from Suffolk.
"But I'm not just looking at qualifying, I want to win the title. I've still not hit my top game yet but when that happens, and it will do, I will really fancy my chances."
by Jon Wilde 07/07/2008 BACK TO TOP ^ |
