The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Mark Gray is the Euro Tour 2015 champion.
This, the fifth such win of his career, makes him England’s leading Euro Tour winner, eclipsing the four of Blackpool’s Daryl Peach. And it also means he finished the season ranked number two in Europe.
Gray, a 42-year-old resident professional at Bourne Snooker Centre and Spalding Snooker League’s top player, clinched his latest success in Treviso, Venice.
He staved off competition 180 entrants from all over Europe.
And he really turned on the style for the showdown final against Greece’s number two Alex Kazakis.
“Granite” enjoyed five break and runs and did not miss a single pot in the 9-3 victory.
He said: “I played my best pool of the tournament when it mattered most.”
However, there were times in the semi-final when it seemed Gray’s run was about to come to an end.
Norway number one Mats Schjetne led 4-1 and 5-2 but saw his opponent cling on, battle back and clinch a place in the final by 9-8.
Gray’s other Euro Tour event wins came in Switzerland (2007), Spain (2009), Italy (2011) and Holland (2014).
Results: Round one – Nicolas Baumanns (Germany) 9-7
Round two – Jan Wolf (Germany) 9-7
Round three – Tony Drago (Malta) 9-2
Last 32 – Roman Hybler (Czech Republic number one) 9-4
Last 16 – Denis Grabe (Estonia number one and twice Euro Tour winner) 9-2
Last eight – Ralf Souquet (Germany) 9-2 (also beat him in World Championships and World Pool Masters )
Semi-final – Mats Schjetne (Norway) 9-8
Final – Alex Kazakis (Greece) 9-3
