IT will be the clash of the champions in next week’s Moorhouse’s Golden Cue final.

Reigning champion Farak Ajaib faces 2009 winner Pete Mercer in an eagerly-awaited showdown at Ighten Leigh Social Club on Sunday, May 13 (1pm start).

The competition, first played for in the 1970s, is enjoying something of a revival since Neil McGovern relaunched it in 2008 and this year’s event has attracted more than 80 cueists from across Burnley, Pendle and beyond.

Now Padiham potter Ajaib and Mercer of Clitheroe club Low Moor will battle it out for the £600 prize money and the honour of the Golden Cue title. The defending champion has been in fine form throughout the competition, dropping just one frame in six matches.

And he showed he is not ready to relinquish his title without a fight after wrapping up an impressive 3-0 win against Mark Salmon in the semi final with a fantastic clearance of 121, which puts him in the frame for the £50 highest break prize.

Mercer, by contrast, has had to scrap his way through the rounds – which again was highlighted in the semi finals against Tony Greenwood of Worsthorne Club.

He appeared to be on course to a rare straight forward victory after racing to a 2-0 lead.

But Greenwood fought back to level the match and force a very exciting and nerve-jangling deciding frame. Greenwood was odds-on to complete his fightback when he opening up a commanding lead but Mercer came back from the brink of defeat and had first go at the final black but missed badly and left his rival with what seemed an easy pot.

But there are no ‘gimmees’ when a place in the final is at stake and Greenwood not only missed the black but saw the cue ball roll in to the pocket and Mercer was through to the final.

McGovern will be hoping for just as much drama in the best of seven frame final.