PETE MUSSON retained his York and District Snooker Association Champion of Champions' crown when he beat Andy Crosby 2-1 in the final of this year's competition at the Cueball Club.

Crosby comfortably won the opening frame 58-16, Musson conceding with the colours remaining.

Musson won the second frame 64-26, making several small breaks and playing the better safety shots to restrict Crosby's opportunities.

Breaks of 19 and 22 saw Musson take a lead of 40 points in the deciding frame. Crosby dug deep and stopped his opponent scoring so that Musson was only two points ahead going on to the colours.

The outcome hinged on the green ball. Crosby missed with his attempt at a difficult pot and Musson took his half chance by potting the green with the rest and then he rolled in the brown.

A half-ball blue in the middle, followed by the pink, made the break 18 points and he won the frame 65-45 to retain the title.

The Champion of Champions' event is for winners of the Association's monthly competitions between March last year and this February.

This year - the second annual competition - the field was reduced to nine as Crosby, Tim Hart and Kevin Hopper had each won the monthly competitions twice. With February champion Andy Marshall unable to play because of work the competition started at the quarter-finals stage, all matches being best of three frames.

Kevin Gall beat Phil Anderson, the Association's chairman, 2-0 in the first match. Gall made a 21 break in winning the opening frame 68-44. Anderson took the lead in the second frame before Gall responded with a 23 break and went on to take the frame 58-49 on the last pink.

Musson started his defence of the title by coming from behind to beat Kevin Hopper. Musson made a fine 39 break on his first visit to the table but Hopper gradually reduced the deficit and cleared the last four colours in one break to take the frame 52-47 on black.

In the next frame Musson put together a 23 break but Hopper was in control of the play until he missed a risky double on the last blue which would have been match ball. Musson sank the blue and then made a great pot on pink to get perfect position on black, which he sank to win the frame.

In the deciding frame Musson continued his fluent potting and compiled a 32 break on his way to a 55-2 victory for the match.

Crosby beat Hart in the third quarter-final. In winning the first frame Hart opened with a 49 break, which proved to be the highest of the night. Crosby hit back with a 40 break in winning the second frame 70-21. Hart started the better in the deciding frame but Crosby's positional play was stronger and he made two breaks of 30 to go through 61-19.

Adam Scaife, the youngest player in the event, beat Paul Clark 2-0 in two black ball frames. Scaife made a 28 break in the first frame.

Musson beat Gall 2-0 in the first semi-final with the help of a 23 break in the first and by potting the last pink in the second.

Crosby made a 40 break in winning the opening frame of his semi-final against Scaife and in the second frame Crosby's experience on the colours was decisive as he picked them off to win 68-43.

The whole competition was sponsored by Heworth Minibuses, who also sponsor all the monthly competitions. The final was refereed by Phil Anderson.

The next monthly handicap qualifying competition will be held at the Cueball Club on Wednesday, April 24, starting at 7.15pm. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome. Contact Pete Musson on 01904 416087 as soon as possible to book and entry.

Updated: 11:11 Tuesday, April 09, 2002