STEVE GREGSON is indisputably the best amateur snooker player in York.

The former Pontin's International Open Series stalwart won the inaugural York Masters with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Dan Potter in the final.

Gregson was crowned the champion following a two month tournament held on a World Snooker standard table above keen player Adrian Barraclough's Quickslide showroom in Layerthorpe.

It was South Bank's Potter who settled the better of the two players and he took the opening frame comfortably 52-8. Both players had chances in frame two and it looked like Gregson would level the match when potting the green and landing on the brown.

He failed to convert, however, and Potter needed just the one chance - clearing from brown to pink - to take a 2-0 lead.

But Gregson dug in, winning a series of long safety battles, to get on the board with an 80-52 success. This seemed to give him the lift he needed and superb 65 break levelled the match at the interval.

The momentum continued to shift the Huntington man's way on the resumption.

Gregson took two close frames to forge 4-2 ahead and need just one to take the title. Potter had now lost four frames in a row but he showed his character and reduced the deficit to a single frame - potting a number of long reds and colours on his way to a 73-58 success in frame seven.

With the tension mounting, Gregson missed some key balls in the next and gave Potter the chance to level the match at 4-4. He took the opportunity with both hands.

The final frame saw Gregson get the first chance and he made a solid 30 break after potting a long red before eventually running out of position. As the match ticked over the five hour mark, Potter responded with 20 before the match descended into a climactic safety battle.

Gregson finally potted a red into the middle, got on the black and was able to win frame and match.

The presentations were presented by Faye Bradley and Gregson also took the highest break prize for his 82 against Malton's Lee Taylor in the semi-finals.

Pickering professional Paul Davison, who was present at the final, has learned who he will meet in qualifying for the World Championships.

The 42-year-old has been drawn in his opening encounter against up-and-coming player Chris Wakelin, who shocked Ryan Day in the UK Championship first round last November.

The match will take place at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, in Sheffield, on Tuesday, April 8. The winner will meet Alan McManus in round two on April 10.