Melling is most valuable player as Europe retain Mosconi Cup (From Keighley News)

Chris Melling is most valuable player as Europe retain Mosconi Cup

9:20pm Friday 14th December 2012 in District Sport By Bill Marshall, T&A Sports Reporter

Keighley’s Chris Melling took the most valuable player trophy as Europe defeated the United States for the third time in a row in the Mosconi Cup last night.

Leading 9-6 overnight, the hosts only needed two of the five singles matches in the final session but the States fought back in a thrilling climax at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

They won the first three matches before Melling calmed home nerves with a 5-2 win over Brandon Shuff to put Europe 10-9 up.

Then Holland’s Nick Van Den Berg beat Mike Dechaine 5-2 to spark wild celebrations.

Melling looked assured throughout and his trophy was the result of three superb singles wins.

He said: “It has been unbelievable. It is a dream come true to win it once but to win it twice is just unbelievable.

“Wow! I cannot believe I have won the MVP. The first two days I started off very slowly and lost two 5-4s which I could have easily won but I came good at the end.”