'Granite' Gray was great as he delivered the best performance of his pool career to claim £1,200 first prize

The Bourne Snooker Club professional – and former Mosconi Cup 9-ball pool player – won 55 frames and lost just 13 on his way to his second title from three ranking events this season. He finished second in the other one and tops the tour rankings ahead of event four in Newcastle Under Lyme later this year.

Most of the frames Gray dropped occured in a high class final against Peter Mullaney from Norwich. Gray was 3-1 down and then 6-3 up before Mullaney rattled off three frames in a row to force a decider which the local man won with a pressure clearance to claim the £1,200 first prize.

Gray’s performance level peaked with a 6-2 semi-final win over Ultimate Pool pro Dylan Leary. He had won his quarter final 6-0 and his games in the last 16, last 32 and last 64 all by 5-1 margins.

A full entry of 128 top players took part with Gray winning six of his seven group matches 3-0. He won the other one 3-2 to qualify for the knockout stages as group leader.

Gray said: “In the 3 years I’ve been playing English pool this was by far and away my best performance from start to finish. To win 2 out of 3 events and to also have a runners-up finish is amazing as this tour is so tough with 2 Ultimate Pool Pros playing on it and another Pro that plays from the IPA Tour!

"It’s great therefore to be the number one ranked player.”