A KEIGHLEY-based player says he has the hunger back for competing in nine-ball pool after representing Great Britain against the world’s elite.

Chris Melling was part of a two-man team who were knocked out of the World Cup of Pool, losing 9-2, to eventual winners Spain in the quarter-finals.

The event saw Melling and Imran Majid team up representing Great Britain B, who were unseeded.

 

The pairing got off to a brilliant start to the tournament, shown live on Sky Sports, beating Great Britain A team, made up of Jayson Shaw and Elliott Sanderson, 7-0 in a first round whitewash.

The second round saw Melling and Majid sneak past South Africa 7-3 following a victory and then crashed to a defeat to Spain, who went on to beat Singapore in the final, at the last-eight stage.

Melling has returned to the practice table and will next be in action this weekend in Blackpool for Ultimate Pool’s latest competition, which starts tomorrow. Professional and Challenger Events 5 & 6. Women’s Champions and Europa Leagues Event 3, which will be played at Blackpool’s Grand Hotel.

 

Melling says he has taken a lot away from his experience playing for Great Britain B last week and hopes it will be a catalyst for more future nine-ball action for him.

He said: “We had a good run at the World Cup of Pool. We were unseeded.

“It was really strange to be playing Elliott and Jayson in the first round. I’m rea;lly good friends with them off the table.

“We gave them a lesson, to be honest. The match took about 32 minutes. When you get the chances in nine-ball pool you have to take them.

Keighley News: Chris Melling will be back in action this weekend in Blackpool. Picture: Ultimate PoolChris Melling will be back in action this weekend in Blackpool. Picture: Ultimate Pool

“Against South Africa a couple of days later we did not perform as well as we could do. We gave them quite a few chances.

“I have got the hunger back for nine-ball. I’m playing in the US Open and I’ll be at an event in Germany in August. I will also be competing in Matchroom events.

“I want to get my nine-ball ranking up. I got to the world number three ranking about six years ago, so I know I can do it.

“I would have liked to have won the World Cup of Pool. I have never been to the final or semi-finals. In pool you need a lot of things to go your way.

“We lost to Spain who are a really, really good pair. I could not think of two better players to win it, to be honest. It was deserved. I missed a couple of balls against them.

“I was picked to play at the World Cup of Pool and every time I won a match there I thought it was a bonus.

“I have not played any nine-ball tournaments, I have been playing English pool at Ultimate Pool.”

After his Blackpool challenge this weekend, Melling will be back on the roads across the UK with exhibition events lined up in Norfolk, Leicester and Scotland over the coming weeks. Melling added: “I’m really looking forward to playing at Blackpool. I have won two world championships and two Ultimate Pool tours there in the past. Eight-ball pool is going from strength to strength. The prize money has risen too.”