World number one Nicky Brett hopes it might finally be his turn to win the the big one.

Brett, who has recently moved to Huntingdon IBC after spending much of his career at the City of Ely club, is through to the quarter-finals of the Just Retirement World Indoor Bowls Championships.

Second seed Brett has never made it past the semi-final stage of the sport’s flagship event in six previous attempts, but he has started his latest challenge in smooth style.

Brett beat qualifier James Rippey 12-3, 8-4 at the Potters Resort, Hopton-on-Sea in the opening round and then eased past Les Gillett 9-4, 8-5 to make further progress in a tournament which carries a £55,000 first prize.

Brett said: “I didn’t really give James much of a sniff and played a few good shots when I needed to.

“I was pretty pleased with how it went and I’m ready for what will be a tough game against Les. You wouldn’t expect anything else at the quarter-final stage of the world championships though.

“I’ve probably just about shaded our games 60/40 down the years, but I’ll certainly needed to play well to win.

“In three of the last four years I have lost to the eventual winner in the game of the tournament.

“That shows I haven’t done a lot wrong. I’ve asked plenty of questions, but my opponent has always had the answers.

“Hopefully this might be my year, but who knows - it might never be my year!

“All I can do is continue to play well and give myself a chance of winning the title.”

Brett, who is based at Yaxley, near Peterborough, was an early casualty in the Men’s Pairs with his former City of Ely clubmate Greg Harlow.

They went down to eventual winners Darren Burnett and Stewart Anderson.

Brett, and partner Alison Merrien of Guernsey, were beaten in the semi-finals of the Mixed Pairs event last Sunday by the Scottish duo of Alex Marshall and Julie Forrest.