The 11th World Tenpin Masters currently underway at Barnsley Metrodome in England lost one of its biggest attractions Friday when debutant James Tidd (left), England, caused the first major upset of the 2008 event as he sent defending champion Jason Belmonte tumbling out of the competition in the opening game.

Celebrating his 24th birthday Tidd couldn't have asked for a better present as he gained confidence and didn't succumb to nerves to match Belmonte in the early stages.

A slip up from the Australian, a 4-6 split in the ninth frame, was his downfall as the Englishman worked off a succession of strikes to find himself 21 pins to good at the close of the opening game.

Tidd, who qualified for the WTM by winning the PTBC Masters, held himself together before slipping up in the fifth frame when he left a 7/10 that he could not convert. However, he hung on as Belmonte faded in the second game. In the end Tidd won the second game by a near similar margin and was delighted with his victory.

"This is the highest point of my career, it can't get any higher than this," said a delighted Tidd. "In my eyes this was the best draw I could've had as I had nothing to lose but I knew, on my day, I could give as good as anyone.

"I'm not big headed and I was nervous but when I got down the lane I was quite confident that I could take him out.
"He looked frustrated in the warm-up and luckily I held my nerve. If I was honest, I didn't think I would get into the second round."

Guy Caminsky (right) cruised into the quarter-finals with an emphatic triumph over newcomer Ghislaine van der Tol. The South African booked his place in the last eight with a 74-pin winning margin.

"I'm delighted to get to the next round and the lane condition was perfect for me, but I had a problem with my approaches" said Caminsky, who now meets James Tidd in his next match.

"But unless I raise my game I don't stand a chance against James. He's bowling unbelievably and blew us all away with how calm he is.< "It's easy to get over-awed in your first time here but he really took it in his stride and made good shots and did well.

Dutch Ghislaine Van Der Tol, making her debut in the Masters, was hoping to have as much of an impact as James Tidd. However, things did not go to plan for her as an open frame in the second was followed by a rare foul at the start of the third after she had over-balanced and stepped over the line.

Caminsky, in contrast, stamped his authority on the match with strikes from his first six balls to gain a substantial lead, which he never looked like losing. His perfect run ended in bizarre circumstances as he threw a gutter ball, maybe the only one that will be seen throughout the entire tournament.

At the end of the first game the score was 240-168 in Caminsky's favor. The damage was done and Caminsky ended up winning by 444-370, although he had some sympathy for Van Der Tol.

"I really feel for her," added Caminsky. "I know what it's like to be here for the first time and as it's a short format, once you're behind then there's not time to catch up.
"No one wants to lose in the first round but in this format anything can happen.
"I'm delighted to have an easy win, but I did not expect it."

In the final match of the evening session, England's Paul Moor (left) continued his impressive run at this event as he cruised into the quarter-finals with an impressive win over Alex Liew, Malaysia.

A 30 pin lead in the first, courtesy of a more consistent strike rate, left Liew with a severe uphill struggle in the second game. Moor though turned the screw as he started out with five strikes and Liew compounded his misery as he left as open frame in the third to effectively end his hopes.

Moor, who can now look forward to either Dom Barrett or Biboy Rivera in his next match, was pleased to be contending again. "Winning it would mean a lot to me," admitted Moor, "I've always been sat there looking at the trophy thinking if I could lift it.

"Maybe after the first two finals I thought that I hadn't done myself justice but in the final last year I didn't put a foot wrong and Jason Belmonte was just better than me. There was nothing else I could've done.

"It's starting to become a habit and one I want to break this year but there are still three matches to go.
"Recently I haven't been bowling well so I was a bit apprehensive but I'm happy to get through the first round and be back here on Sunday.
"Alex played better than 400 but had a lot of bad luck.

"My expectations were to try and make it through to Sunday and then take it from there and I've done that.
"I'm not saying everything else is a bonus as I would like to lift the trophy but I will think about that more when the time comes."

Courtesy of Luke Riches, Matchroom Sports