 Gray in 2008 | |
| Born | 16 August 1973 Baston, Lincolnshire, England |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  England |
| Professional | Snooker 1992–2008, pool 2008-present |
| Highest ranking | 79 (1999/2000) |
| Best ranking finish | Last 32 (x2) |
| Tournament wins | |
| World Champion | Team (2010) |
Mark Gray (born 16 August 1973) is an English professional pool player and former professional snooker player.
Born in 1973, Gray turned professional in 1992. He made little progress in any tournament until the 1997/1998 season, when he reached the last 64 at the German Open - losing 1–5 to Karl Broughton - the last 48 at the Thailand Masters, where Chris Small whitewashed him 5–0, and later made his first appearance in the last 32 at a ranking event, in the 1998 British Open. There, he defeated Jimmy Michie 5–3 and Jimmy White 5–4, but lost 3–5 to Dominic Dale.
The following season saw Gray repeat his feat at the British Open, beating Bjorn Haneveer 5–2, Paul Wykes 5–4 and Jamie Burnett 5–3, having trailed Burnett 1–3. He was again eliminated at the last 32 stage, this time 4–5 by Peter Ebdon.
Gray's ranking improved to a career-best 79th for the 1999/2000 season, but his form declined thereafter. In the 2000 UK Championship, he again met Small and led 3–2, but succumbed 3–9; he met Steve Davis in the last 48 at the 2001 Scottish Open, but was whitewashed 5–0 by the six-time World Champion. [1]
Gray reached his first quarter-final at the 2001 Benson & Hedges Championship, but was defeated 1–5 by the eventual finalist, Hugh Abernethy.
Having finished the 2002/2003 season ranked 103rd, Gray dropped off the tour, and entered several qualifying events the following season to regain his place. He was successful in this, but played only four matches in the 2004/2005 season; the last of these, a 3–5 Malta Cup defeat to Darren Morgan, was Gray's final at competitive level. Finishing that season ranked 97th, he left the professional game once more at the age of 31.
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 2001 | WPBSA Open Tour – Event 1 | Shaun Murphy | 5–2 [2] |
| Runner-up | 1. | 2002 | WPBSA Open Tour – Event 5 | Lee Spick | 3–5 [2] |
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Runner-up | 1. | 2002 | EASB Open Tour – Event 2 |  Ryan Day | 3–5 [2] |
| Runner-up | 2. | 2003 | EASB Open Tour – Event 3 | Rory McLeod | 2–5 [2] |
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent in the final | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 1997 | English Open | Luke Simmonds | 8–4 [3] |
After his snooker career ended, Gray began playing pool, becoming a full-time professional player in 2010. In 2008, he was the number one nine-ball player in Britain and Europe, having won the 2007 Swiss 9-Ball Championship; Gray was also part of the Mosconi Cup-winning European team of 2008, 2014 and 2016. Alongside Daryl Peach, Gray was the runner up at the 2008 World Cup of Pool, losing to the American team of Rodney Morris and Shane Van Boening 11–7. [4]
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In 2018, championships were held across three continents to determine the best players in major cue sports, including snooker, pool, and English billiards. While these are mostly single player sports, some matches and tournaments are held as either doubles or as team events. The snooker season runs between May and April; the pool and billiards seasons run through the calendar year.
Professional tournaments in table-top cue sports took place in 2020. These events include snooker, pool disciplines and billiards. Whilst these are traditionally singles sports, some matches and tournaments are held as doubles or as teams. The snooker season runs between May and April, whilst the pool and billiards seasons is listed over the calendar year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was disrupted with many events being cancelled or postponed. Cue sports events were played in January and February, before tournaments were discontinued for all disciplines due to the pandemic, returning in June without an audience.
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