Chris ‘The Magician’ Melling is one of the most successful versatile cueists of all-time. His quick, imaginative and attractive style of play means he is one of the most popular, too.

It was apparent from an early age how talented Melling was with a cue in his hands. He won the first junior English 8-Ball Pool event he ever entered and immediately followed that up by claiming the National Junior Championship in Great Yarmouth.

A World Junior Champion in 1997, Melling quickly adapted to the sport’s senior ranks, qualifying to turn professional following his debut season on the UK Tour before winning a tour title on it in only his second term.

In 2001, as a 22-year-old, Melling won the full version of the World Championship for the first time. The Yorkshireman did it in style in Blackpool, eliminating a string of fierce competitors including former champion Quinten Hann (in a deciding frame), Darren Appleton (in a deciding frame) and Phil Harrison, before ousting former two-time winner Rob McKenna 11-10 in the final.

Two years later and Melling claimed the championship again, defeating the player who succeeded him as champion in the final, Jason Twist. In an exhibition of world-class pool, Melling won the entertaining contest 11-7.

Melling lost to Gareth Potts in the 2005 final, but he did triumph in the World Masters that year and went on to defend that particular trophy in 2006 following victory over Mick Hill in the final. To date, he is still the only person to have retained the World Masters.

Melling’s major accomplishments aren’t only restricted to the 7×4 surface, though, as he regularly performs on other stages around the world in order to quench his cuesports thirst.

At 12-years-old he made his first competitive century in snooker and only two years later he had compiled a 147-maximum break. He has had spells on the global professional snooker circuit, winning an event on both the Challenge Tour and the International Open Series. In 2014 he emerged as one of the graduates from Q School.

During the same year as his maiden world English 8-Ball Pool title, Melling qualified for the 2001 World 9-Ball Pool Championship in Cardiff where he made it through the groups phase and reached the last 16 – eliminating Steve Davis in the round before. He would later pursue a career in the discipline, notching up his maiden EuroTour title – the Portugal Open – in 2010 before conquering the prestigious China Open in 2011.

Melling’s impressive performances have twice seen him selected for Team Europe in the annual Mosconi Cup. He was part of victorious outfits in both of those years – Las Vegas in 2011 and London in 2012. In the latter staging, he also collected the revered MVP (Most Valuable Player) award.

In recent years Melling has had success at the Derby City Classic and World Pool Series. In New York for the WPS in 2017, he produced his now fabled clearance during a match against Mika Immonen which proved to be an internet sensation. Featuring three magical shots – including a ball that was potted off four rails around the table – the legendary footage has apparently received over 70 million views online.

If English Pool, Snooker and American Pool weren’t enough, Melling also reached the final of the 2013 World Chinese 8-Ball Masters in China where he lost to Gareth Potts.

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Best UPG Tournament Results

Professional Series: 2x Event Finalist (2021 Events 1 & 3)
Professional Cup: Last 16 (2021)
Champions League: Winner (2021)
Professional Grand Slam: Joint 17th (2022)
Masters: Last 16 (2021)
Champion of Champions: Winner (2021)
Pairs Cup: Opening Groups Phase (2021/22)

Melling made an instant impact on the Ultimate Pool scene by winning the organisation’s first major televised event – the 2021 Vinny.co.uk Champions League – when he defeated fellow all-time great Michael Hill in the grand final. The victory earned him £10,000.

At home with the fast and furious pace, he claimed his second Ultimate Pool major at the end of the organisation's inaugural season with the Champion of Champions Shootout. Melling was in sizzling form, dropping just five frames in four matches, culminating in a victory over Chris Day in the final.

The Yorkshireman also impressed early on in the inaugural Ultimate Pool Professional Series, reaching the finals of the bigger-money Events 1 and 3 at the Players Pool and Snooker Lounge.

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