The GB 9-Ball Pool Tour, which is now in its sixth season, maintained its reputation for exciting finishes when it stopped off in Bradford at the weekend.

Blackpool’s Karl Boyes won the Northern Masters ten-ball event final by defeating Peterborough’s Mark Gray, a former snooker professional, 11-10 at the Cedar Court Hotel.

It is the second time in three events on the tour this season that the final has gone to the deciding rack, as Great Britain’s up-and-coming Phil Burford won the Midlands Classic to secure the national No 2 ranking by seeing off Germany’s Ralf Souquet by the same 11-10 scoreline at Telford in April.

And the other event, played at the same Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in the west Midlands, was the Paul Medati Classic in February, which was won 11-9 by Heckmondwike’s Mick Hill against Craig Osborne (Ipswich).

“The Cedar Court final was a high-quality match,” said GB 9-Ball Tour chairman Andy Warden, “with break-and-runs (clearing up from the break) from both players.”

Chris Melling was beaten 9-1 in the quarter-finals by Gray, while fellow Keighlian Arfan Dad lost 9-8 to Benji Buckley in the last 32 after victories over Martin Royce (9-2) and Buckley (9-4) in the double-elimination format.

Melling had earlier beaten Mathew Lawrenson 9-8, Albert Casellas 9-6, Alvaro Cononiga 9-5 and Dean Thompson 9-6, only to lose 9-7 to Burford.

Dad, however, did win through to the Challenge final, losing 7-6 to Michael Rhodes after victories over Jamie Bryan (7-4), Hector Luna Iglesias (7-2), Osborne (7-1) and Tommy Donlon (7-2).

Boyes’ victory has put himself in line for a place in the 2013 Partypoker.com World Masters.

He has displaced Osborne as the fourth and final qualifier behind No 1 Gray, Imran Majid and Burford.

The fifth and final qualifying event is the Southern Masters on August 9-11 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted Airport.

Warden added: “The Cedar Court Hotel is the best venue that we visit on the tour - all the players have said that.

“The main room is just superb and we will definitely be coming back next year.”