US qualifier Neil Furman provided the first shock after ousting experienced Welshman Robert Weale.  The 12th seed from Hereford was competing in his first international event on home soil since winning the singles gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last October.

Denver-based Furman, making his first WBT appearance in Wales since 2005, took the early lead, but Weale came back to win the first set by a five-shot margin.  The Welshman, a former world champion, also led in the second – but this time Furman fought back to force the match into a tie-break.

And it was Furman who maintained the upper hand in the shootout, winning the first two ends to record his 3-8, 6-4, 2-0 upset.

Later, Peter Wilson became the first New Zealand qualifier to win a match on the World Bowls Tour in two years when he demolished Welsh veteran John Price, the 15th seed, 10-1, 7-3.

The 39-year-old from Dunedin was too good, out-drawing Price – a two-time champion - throughout the match.  

And in the first second round match, England's Simon Skelton faced compatriot Jason Parkinson, a qualifier from Blackpool who pulled off the event's first upset when he beat experienced Englishman Nick Brett on the opening day.

The 32-year-old Welsh WBT debutant carried on where he left off in the first round, taking the first set against Skelton, the world No5 from Nottingham.

But Skelton bounced back to win the second and, after Parkinson took the opener in the tie-break, came back again to win the next two ends to clinch the match 3-8, 7-5, 2-1.

RESULTS:    Co-operative Funeralcare Welsh Grand Prix, Swansea, Wales

1st round:
[Q] Neil Furman (USA) bt [12] Robert Weale (WAL) 3-8, 6-4, 2-0
[Q] Peter Wilson (NZL) bt [15] John Price (WAL) 10-1, 7-3
2nd round:
[6] Simon Skelton (ENG) bt [Q] Jason Parkinson (ENG) 3-8, 7-5, 2-1

Tuesday (1 February) schedule:
10.00am, 2nd round:
[10] Billy Jackson (ENG) v [13] David Gourlay (SCO)    
1.00pm, 1st round:
[14] Jonathan Ross (SCO) v Phil Rowlands (WAL)    
2nd round:
[1] Darren Burnett (SCO) v [11] Andy Thomson (ENG)    
[5] Alex Marshall, MBE (SCO) v [2] Paul Foster (SCO)    

Wednesday (2 February) schedule:
10.00am, 2nd round:
[9] Mervyn King (ENG) v Ross or Rowlands
1.00pm
[Q] Peter Wilson (NZL) v [4] Mark Royal (ENG)
Followed later by....
[3] Greg Harlow (ENG) v [Q] Neil Furman (USA)   
[7] Jason Greenslade (WAL) v [Q] Stewart Anderson (SCO)