The decorator aiming to become world bowls champion

Wayne Willgress is a self-employed painter and decorator when he is not bowling

Most of the year, Wayne Willgress is either up a ladder or on all fours painting a skirting board, but every January his main focus is trying to become the World Indoor Bowls Champion.

This year's event is played over 17 days at Potters Resort in Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk, and started on Friday.

Willgress, aged 36 and seeded 9th in the open singles, will take on Scotland's Darren Weir in round one on Tuesday.

"It is not quite professional enough to earn enough just playing bowls," he said. "So most players need to do something else to pay the bills."

Norfolk's Wayne Willgress (centre) pictured with 2010 world champion Greg Harlow at Potters Resort

Willgress is a self-employed painter and decorator. A role that is well-suited to his other job as a semi-professional bowler, as he needs to take three or four months' holiday a year to play on the World Bowls Tour.

"I work around my painting to play my bowls," said Willgress, who made his debut at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in 2018, when he reached the semi-finals.

"Most, if not all of the players have other jobs." he said. "Half are self-employed, half are probably employed.

"Some work in bowls, which helps, but only the odd one or two could call themselves totally professional players."

The winner of the open singles at Potters will pocket £50,000 in prize money.

"There are big pay days out there," Wilgress said. "There are tournaments every weekend if you want to travel the country and around the world but it is expensive.

"It is nearly impossible to earn enough to survive just solely playing bowls. My job is ideal as it gives me the flexibility I need."

Bit of a squeeze: Wayne said he gets used to working in tight spaces but he enjoyed his job as it gives him the flexibility he needed to also play bowls semi-professionally

Willgress told BBC Look East he found painting therapeutic as it allowed him to take his mind off the pressure of competition. He plays bowls most nights after work.

"There are times when the bowls can be too much," he said. "But both my work colleagues also play, so we always end up talking about bowls anyway."

Asked if he would continue decorating during the World Championships - "oh yes, definitely," he said.

"If I win my opening singles, there is a bit of a gap between games, so I will return to work for a couple of days to keep to my routine.

"I am lucky the event is on my doorstep."

2024 winner Stewart Anderson with the trophy after winning his third World Indoor Bowls title

Favourite to win the open singles title this year is defending champion Stewart Anderson, who beat fellow Scot Alex Marshall in the final last January.

The world number one, who is 39, has won three World Indoor Bowls titles - in 2013, 2019 and 2024.

Other titles up for grabs are the open pairs, mixed pairs and the ladies singles, where Suffolk's defending champion Katherine Rednall will be hoping to add to her tally of six world titles.

"It is always tough when you come here but it is good to have everyone coming after you," Anderson said.

"I have enjoyed my year and I am really looking forward to getting back on the blue carpet.

"You need some luck to win the world title. I learned a lot from losing in the final in 2010 (to Greg Harlow) as a qualifier, when I was just 24.

"I am sure Wayne (Willgress) will lift the trophy one day as he is an exceptional player."

Wayne Willgress (left), who reached the semi-final in 2018, enjoys a joke with past winner Greg Harlow at Potters

"This is the biggest competition in the world," said Willgress. "Everyone dreams of playing on this single rink in front of 1,000 people and millions watching around the world."

It is the 27th successive year that Potters Resort has staged the event, with players competing from all over the globe including three from Israel after organisers performed a U-turn allowing them to take part.

Willgress, who is making his fifth appearance, said: "It gets the adrenaline going as soon as you walk in.

"It brings back memories, good and bad. It is the place to play bowls and you look forward to it all year."

Asked if he can win? "Yeah I can win it. On my day, I am as good as the rest. Maybe not as consistent as some, such as Stewart (Anderson).

"I am an ordinary guy. But I always give it my all and hopefully will take my chance when it comes."