Chris Melling (pool Player)

Chris Melling (pool Player)

Chris "The Magician" Melling is a British 8-ball pool player and former world number 1. He won the English Pool Association World Rules World Championship twice, in 2001 and 2003. He was ranked #1 in 2003 by the World Eight-ball Pool Federation.

In November 2012 Chris took on part time pool player Bobby Gwyther from Exmouth, Devon in a race to 25 for a £10,000 prizepot and was beaten 25-21. Afterwards he called his opponent "the most natural gifted cueist he'd ever seen"

He has also twice won the International Pool Masters (2001 and 2002) and the European Professional title (2002). He was the first player to win two International Tour events back to back.

Melling currently lives in Keighley, England, although he tours worldwide to pursue his 9-ball pool career.

In October 2010 he won his first European 9-Ball event - the Portugal Open.

On June 12, 2011 Melling was crowned China Open champion and received $40,000. This was his first major 9-Ball Pool tournament victory. He is currently ranked first in the European Mosconi Cup rankings.

Melling has been invited to participate the World Pool Masters and World Cup of Pool in September.

He is the first person to have been a professional in 8-Ball Pool, 9-Ball Pool and Snooker at the same time.