Winning start for cue ace Gray in Mosconi Cup

Spalding and District Snooker League star Mark Gray is contesting the third Mosconi Cup of his glittering career this week.
The resident pro at Bourne Snooker Centre, who he plays for the in the Spalding league, is a part of the European team that are playing America in pool’s biggest tournament at Alexandra Palace this week.
Gray is joined in the European team by Niels Feijen (Holland), Darren Appleton (England), Jayson Shaw (Scotland) and Albin Oushan (Austria), while the USA side includes Shane Van Boening, Mike Dechaine, Skyler Woodward, Justin Bergman and Rodney Morris.
“Granite”, who also represented Team Europe in 2008 (Malta) and Blackpool (2014), helped his side get off to flying start in Tuesday’s opening day.
He paired up with Oushan to win their doubles match 5-2 as Europe took a convincing 4-1 lead.
Gray said: ““We always say day one is critical. You can’t win it in day one but you can lose it if you have a nightmare start.”
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Gray was clearly excited by the prospect of playing at Alexandra Palace.
And, after a year that has seen him finish top of the GBP rankings and Euro Tour rankings, winning the Mosconi Cup was conclude an incredible 2016 for the Bourne-based potter.
He said: “Obviously it’s a dream come true to be playing at Alexandra Palace! I’ve had a great year where I’ve finished number one in the GB9 rankings and I also finished number one in the Euro Tour rankings.
“So this is a great way to end the year by making my third appearance for Team Europe in the Mosconi Cup.
“When it was announced by Matchroom Sport at  the start of the year that the Mosconi was going to be at Ally Pally I made it my goal to be playing there.
“Obviously I’m well chuffed to make it.
“This is potentially going to be the biggest and best Mosconi Cup yet with crowds of at least 2,600.”
Away from pool, Gray warmed up for his Mosconi Cup exploits with a stunning 103 clearance for Bourne SC A at Consti H in the Spalding Snooker League’s KO Cup.
The O105 handicapper  produced the heroics against Jason Houghton (R7), who he beat 122-120 having given his opponent an 112 start.
Gray’s stellar show came in the final frame and helped clinch a 3-2 vitcory for the Bourne boys, with Ian Clare (O14) and Max Ayliff (O7) the other winners.