Ritchie Venner, the only front rank Sussex player at the Cheltenham Grand Prix Open, missed out on a golden chance to reach the quarter-finals.

He stormed past five victims, including Scottish No 2 Stuart Crawford, 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6.

But the Sussex No.1 failed to grasp an excellent chance to reach the last eight and lost 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 to Surrey-based former Nigerian international Abdul Wuraola.

Venner said: "I easily beat Abdul in the British League in March, so he got his revenge today."

Other Sussex players to appear at Cheltenham were Gail Davey (St Leonards), Rory Scott (University of Brighton) and Terry Dean (Worthing).

Davey lost to England squad player Natalie Bawden (Essex) in the main event and to England No. 10 Jane Durham in the veterans' competition for women.

The British League premier division have voted to play on four weekends next season instead of 14 Sundays.