KATY Smith’s hopes of glory at this month’s World Championships, held at Potters Leisure Centre in Norfolk, ended in the quarter-finals after defeats in two tie-breaks.

In the ladies’ matchplay championship, Smith lost 6-5, 4-7, 0-2 to Blackpool Newton Hall’s international skip Janice Gower.

The first set was nip-and-tuck but on the seventh end, Smith grabbed a three to go 5-4 ahead and although she dropped the penultimate end, she recouped and counted the vital shot on the last end to win 6-5.

It was a similar story in the second set, with the score 3-3 after six ends, but this time Gower scooped a treble on the next end and never looked back, finally taking it 7-4.

In the tie-break with the momentum in her favour, Gower won the first two ends of the best-of-three decider.

A day earlier, Smith had been involved in another epic match in the world mixed pairs quarter-finals alongside Scotland’s Alex Marshall but they lost 4-9, 4-3, 1-2 to world number one Nick Brett and his Scottish partner Claire Johnston.

It was a riveting match, with the shot changing hands with virtually every bowl in the second set and tie-break.

In the second set with his last bowl, Marshall drew a shot on to the jack to force the decisive breaker.

This form continued in the tie-break, with all four players producing superb shots with almost every bowl to keep the crowd on the edges of their seats.

In the deciding end, Marshall appeared to have turned the game in his and Smith’s favour only for them to be denied by Brett, who turned Marshall’s shot bowl out to grab a last-gasp victory.

Smith will now turn her attentions to the national championships, which have reached the sharp end in Area 14.

Together with father Neil, they will face Helen and Steve Tuohy, from Egham in Surrey, in the Area 14 final of the mixed pairs.

Meanwhile in the mixed fours, Katy, 20, elder sister Lucy, dad Neil and Westlecot colleague Ian Jefferies are one step away from a return to the last 16 of the national mixed fours having been beaten finalists last year.

They have to face Andy Knapper’s team from Whiteknight’s Reading.