Peter Marshall, seeded second, has a chance of becoming the first home male to win the British Open for more than 20 years when the tournament gets under way in Cardiff today, writes Richard Eaton.
The British national champion has yet to beat the top-seeded title-holder, Jansher Khan, in a world circuit event, but did beat him in the Super League in Bristol a month ago.
One thing in Marshall's favour is that the crowd may prove noisier than at Wembley now that the game's oldest event has moved outside England for the first time in its 65-year history.
The journey has helped prompt other changes - the British Open will use for the first time both a 17-inch tin, and the 15-up point-per-rally scoring system. Placed two inches lower, the tin encourages attacking play, which suits Jansher.
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