HAMPSHIRE Liberty Trophy skip Adam Tidby goes into the new year guaranteed the biggest pay-day of his bowls career.

The 40-year-old England international will pocket at least £750 for his first appearance in the Potters Holidays World Indoor Singles next week.

That is how much he will earn should he lose his first-round match to American Neil Furman at the Norfolk venue on Friday, January 7 (2pm).

However, defeat is not a word in Tidby's vocabulary. He is determined to make a name for himself among such elite company and will be spurred on by the fact that victory would mean a second-round date with eighth seed and former world champion John Price the following Sunday - with the pay-off doubling to £1,500.

Welshman Price is one of 16 seeded bowlers from around the world who come into the tournament at the second stage to face the 16 qualifiers who survive the opening round in the pursuit of the top prize of £28,000.

Furman, who has appeared in prestige British tournaments like the Bupa Care and Welsh Masters, qualified through a round in America.

Tidby and his East Dorset club colleague Martyn Sekjer are expected to retain their places in the England team for this winter's British Isles International Series in Belfast during March.

Both played for England last season and acquitted themselves well during the international trial at Northampton, where Sekjer skipped a rink that had Tidby at number two.

They played for the Probables, who beat the Possibles 136-96. Sekjer overcame Dorset's Steve Gait 8-3, took his second game 10-8, but lost the final session 9-3.

The selectors are due to name the team shortly.

In the national singles Tidby crushed Roger Stonham (Atherley) at Southampton and now faces his East Dorset and Liberty Trophy colleague Chris Martin.