STEVE ALKER 4-1 DENIS OVENS
(3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-0)
SNAKE MAN Steve Alker slithered into the third round of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship by beating Denis Ovens 4-1 and then revealed he would spend his prize money on a wedding to fiancee Natalie.
Alker, from Llanelli in Wales, is now guaranteed at least £12,500 for his efforts at the Circus Tavern, and admitted he would use the cash to fund his big day next year.
Ovens rarely lived up to his nickname of The Heat as he lost the first two sets in routine fashion before rallying in the third.
Checkouts of 106 and 141 looked enough to get the Stevenage-based thrower back in contention, but Alker took the final leg before Ovens rallied by winning set four.
But the fifth was a procession for Alker too, and he now faces Wayne Jones in the last 16.
"I'm going to use the money to get married with," Alker revealed. "I've been engaged to Natalie for six months now and it's an expensive business but we'll get married next year with this money now - wedding bells are in the air!
"Denis is a great guy and a great player but he let me in one too many times and didn't get too near his best.
"All the really dangerous players are in the other half of the draw but there are still some good players left - it's getting down to serious business now."
Alker takes on fellow giant-killer Jones in the third round, and he added: "I know Wayne really well. I played him in the final of the Midlands Open a few months ago and beat him 5-1, but that's irrelevant now.
"We'll both go up there and do our best, and may the best man win."
Match Stats
|
Denis Ovens |
1-4 |
Steve Alker |
|
20 |
100+ |
35 |
|
9 |
140+ |
13 |
|
6 |
180 |
6 |
|
28.97 |
Ave1 |
31.27 |
|
86.90 |
Ave3 |
93.82 |