Bourne snooker professional is now officially a ‘Legend’

Mark Gray with the spoils from his latest success.

Eight players competed in the day-long tournament for a prestigious title and a £150 first prize.

Gray, a nine-ball pool specialist, but a former snooker professional, beat Colin Mitchell of Northampton 3-0 in a high quality final.

The players were initially split into groups of four with the winner of each group playing in the final.

There were nine breaks over 50+, with Gray compiling five of them including the highest of 90 during a win over Luke Gilbert.

Gray also produced a 53 break in the final and three half centuries while whitewashing Lewis Roberts in a group match.

Highlights in the group games saw Sam Boome draw 2-2 with Dom Cooney and the impressive Gilbert score wins over Steve Martin (4-0) and Lewis Roberts (3-1)He made breaks of 77 and 79 against Roberts.

Results: Group A: Paul Avory drew with Sam Boome 2-2; Colin Mitchell drew with Dom Cooney 2-2; Colin Mitchell beat Paul Avory 3-1; Sam Boome drew with Dom Cooney 2-2; Dom Cooney beat Paul Avory 3-1; Colin Mitchell beat Sam Boome 3-1.

Group B: Mark Gray beat Luke Gilbert 3-1; Lewis Roberts beat Steve Martin 3-1; Mark Gray beat Lewis Roberts 4-0; Luke Gilbert beat Steve Martin 4-0; Mark Gray beat Steve Martin 3-1; Luke Gilbert beat Lewis Roberts 3-1.

Top breaks 90 - Mark Gray, 89-Mark Gray, 79- Lewis Roberts, 77- Luke Gilbert, 70 - Lewis Roberts, 65 -Mark Gray, 62 Mark Gray, 53 - Mark Gray.

This event was held as part of a new series that is included on the city’s Youtube channel, ‘Everything Peterborough’.

Gray was far from a shock winner. He is the resident professional at Bourne Snooker Club and a player with a strong record on the European nine-ball circuit which includes three winning appearances in the popular Mosconi Cup, an annual competition between the best in Europe and the United States.

Gray has also represented England in the World Cup on a couple of occasions, losing in the final alongside Daryl Peach in 2008.

Gray was on the World Snooker tour for 10 years, but never rose higher than 79 in the rankings.

He has been ranked number one in the UK and in Europe at nine-ball pool.