Gray - took title with 9-7 win.

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On-song David Gray was top of the potting charts in Edinburgh on Sunday night after becoming a first-time winner of a ranking tournament.

The 24-year-old rounded off a memorable week, including victories over former world champions Stephen Hendry and John Higgins, to take the Regal Scottish Open title.

Gray, who also beat two other top 16 stars on his way to the £82,500 first prize, defeated Mark Selby 9-7 in a marathon seven-hour encounter.

Victory erased the bad memories from 12 months ago when after beating Hendry and Higgins again en route to the final he lost 9-2 against Stephen Lee.

This time there was no mistake from the world number 19, who was not headed once during the game.

However, he thought he had blown his chance after missing a simple blue into a middle pocket for an 8-6 lead.

And that error was magnified as Selby established a 35-point lead in the 15th frame.

With Gray resigned to falling behind for the first time the 19-year-old fluffed a red into a top pocket and eventually lost the frame on the pink.

He had chances to set-up the first ever deciding frame finish to a Scottish Open final.

But his cueing became more erratic and Gray was well clear when Selby conceded.

Success has been a long time coming for a player nicknamed 'Casper' because of his pale complexion.

He became the youngest ever winner of the English amateur title as a 16-year-old.

In 1998 Gray won the Benson and Hedges Championship in Malvern to qualify for the Masters at Wembley but the big titles had eluded him until now.

Ironically, Gray defeated Selby in last season's Scottish Open and then again to qualify for the 2002 world championship.

Neither of last night's finalists will be appearing at Sheffield this year.

But Selby, who started the season at 53rd on the rankings, has moved into the top 32 for next season.

And Gray has fulfilled another ambition by gaining membership of the top 16 elite for the first time.

"It's unbelievable," gasped Gray, whose bumper cheque should make for a good summer.

"Both Mark and I were twitching at the end and I'm just glad I managed to fall over the line.

"When I missed the blue in the 14th frame I thought my chance had gone," added Gray whose top break was just 65.

"It's the result that counts," he stressed. "You don't care how you do it - you just want to win it.

"I remember watching Mark Williams win his first tournament when I think his highest break was 76.

"My scoring was well below par but I managed to keep nicking frames.

"It got to a stage at the end where it was hard to enjoy it. I didn't compose myself in the final few frames. I was rushing my shots.

"It's great to win your first title but it's a relief as well. I didn't do myself justice last year and I didn't play that well again today.

"Perhaps next time when I'm in this position I will be able to relax a bit more.

"Money matters to everyone but when you're out there you don't think about it.

"You just want to win so much. It wouldn't matter if you were playing for a fiver.

"I would love to be playing in the world championship. But winning my first title and getting into the top 16 is double consolation."

Selby just came up short in his attempt to join a select band of players to have won ranking titles as teenagers including Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Paul Hunter.

But the 19-year-old can be proud of his achievements and his time will surely come again.

There are not too many youngsters coming through capable of challenging the established order.

But Selby, who beat Hendry and O'Sullivan in last season's China Open, is one of them.

"I managed to come back at David from 5-1 down but I couldn't get my nose in front. He was beginning to annoy me," added Selby after accepting a cheque for £42,500.