THE organiser says it is too close to call and both players are confident about their chances - the 2018 Fosters Golden Cue grand final promised to be a cracker.

Tomorrow night’s showdown at Ighten Leigh Snooker Club will pit Peter Mercer, already a Golden Cue winner, against Jonny Hannan aiming to become the first Blackburn player to get his hands on the trophy.

Both players were in superb form winning their respective titles to reach the grand final - Mercer on the small table, Hannan on the large - and everything points to it being a memorable seven frame showdown.

While recent grand finals have favoured the large table champion, Golden Cue secretary, Neil McGovern, says it is too tough to predict who will win as both players are equally at home in both formats.

“Jonny and Pete were superb in their respective finals for different reasons and I am really looking forward to the grand final,” he said. “We revived the competition 11 years ago and I can’t remember going in to one where it was just too close to call.

“Usually, the grand final does favour the large table champion because they also tend to play on the smaller table as well. But this year is different. Peter is a previous Golden Cue winner and he won that on the large table while I know Jonny also plays a lot of his snooker on the smaller table.”

Hannan was in fine form in the large table final, making breaks of 67 and 60 to beat Stephen Croft 4-2 who had defeated the reigning grand final champion Farakh Ajaib in the semi-final.

But Mercer showed his fighting spirit in the small table final as he fought back from 2-0 down to beat Adam Haslam, also 4-2.

While Mercer admits he does not excel in one particular area, he says his all-round game has served him well and he is looking forward to the challenge of playing Hannan for this first time.

“I don’t know too much about Jonny but from what I have seen, he is a very good player,” he said.

“But it is always exciting to get a new challenge and play players you don’t normally come up against.

“I think I have got a decent all-round game and I am looking forward to the final.”

While recent history in the competition favours the large table champion, it is something that doesn’t faze Mercer - especially as he won the Golden Cue title on the large table back in 2009.

And the Clitheroe man said he is more suited to the large table which could work in his favour - as well as his big game experience having appeared in other grand finals.

“I might be the small table champion but I play most of my snooker on the large tables so I am used to both,” said Mercer who plays for Ighten Leigh SC.

“I have been in a few finals before and played in front of a decent crowd so I am not sure if that will work to my advantage or not.”

The Burnley-based competition was opened up to players from across East Lancashire three years ago and Hannan now has the chance to become the first player from Blackburn to win the title.

But despite appearing in his first grand final and having the chance to take the crown back to Blackburn, Hannan admits he does not feel under any extra pressure.

“I’m always really calm going into a big match and I wouldn’t say I suffer from nerves as I usually thrive under pressure,” he said. “It’s a very good strength to have.

“I’ve had many clearances from being many points behind and cleared the lot up to steal frames. The bigger the crowd the better I perform.”

He added: “I’m really looking forward to the Golden Cue grand final especially with the difference of playing frame by frame on the large and small tables. So it’s a different challenge but one I’m extremely looking forward too.

“I’ve only seen Pete play a couple of times and on both occasions I’ve thought to myself I would love to have that cue action he has got.

“But the way I’ve been cueing the ball recently I think I have a great chance.”

* The final is scheduled to begin at 7.30pm on Thursday at the Burnley club.

Players will toss a coin to see who gets the advantage of playing on their favoured table.

Results

Large table (rnd 3 onwards)

Round Three: Lewis Ullah 0-3 Stephen Croft, Dan Paton 3-2 Nik Kershaw, Johnny Hannan 3-0 Russel Large, Jonothan Clark 3-0 Dave Howe, Martin Eyles A-W Tony Arnott, Phil Wright 3-0 Dean Emmott, Jack Dady 3-0 Tommy HannonFarakh Ajaib 3-0 Peter Cliffe,

Quarter finals: Jack Dady 3-0 Dan Paton, Stephen Croft 3-2 Tony Arnott, Jonothan Clark 1-3 Johnny Hannan, Farakh Ajaib 3-0 Phil Wright

Semi-Finals: Farakh Ajaib 1-3 Stephen Croft, Johnny Hannan 3-2 Jack Dady,

Final: Johnny Hannan 4-2 Stephen Croft

Small table (rnd 3 onwards)

Round Three: Adam Haslam 3-2 Wayne Cotterill, Peter Mercer 3-0 Brad Southern, David Walmesley 1-3 John Lanceley, Jimmy Waddington 3-1 Nathan Bridges, Jamie Southern A-W Josh Stevenson, Craig Hughes 3-1 Simon Briggs, Chris Lawson 3-0 Jamie Lingard,

Quarter-Final: Andy Bates 1-3 Jimmy Waddington, Chris Lawson 1-3 Adam Haslam, Josh Stevenson 1-3 Peter Mercer, Craig Hughes 0-3 John Lanceley

Semi-Final: Peter Mercer 3-0 John Lanceley, Jimmy Waddington 2-3 Adam Haslam

Final: Adam Haslam 2-4 Peter Mercer