CHRIS MELLING was taking another step along the road to regaining his Embassy World Pool Championship crown last night.

The Keighley star of snooker and pool, known as 'The Magician' had reached the quarter-final of the competition at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool, after producing some top class performances in the competition.

Last night (Thursday) he was due to take on 41-year-old Keith Brewer, the oldest player left in the tournament, with a place in the semi-finals at stake. Members of the packed house at Blackpool were waiting to see if he would live up to his promise to dye his hair blond for the match. "After his last win Chris said he was going out to have his hair dyed, but he couldn't find a hairdresser's open on Bank Holiday Monday.

"Now everyone is waiting to see if he has lived up to his promise -- or if he has had second thoughts," said tournament spokesman Trevor Baxter.

Earlier in the competition Melling beat South African Ray Scholenk 8-2, but then had to fight his way back from 6-4 down to beat Pat Holtz of Scotland. He took the next four frames to complete an 8-6 victory.

The win was sweet revenge for Chris, who was knocked out of the tournament by Holtz at the last 32 stage last year.

"Go on my son," he shouted after potting the black. "A lot of people said I couldn't beat Pat as he was my bogey player, so this is a great result for me."

It was when he was behind in the game that he made the promise to dye his hair if he made it through to the quarter-finals.

Chris was Embassy World Pool Champion in 2001, has also been World Trick-Shot champion and has earned his place back on the professional snooker circuit.

If Melling wins the title again he will pick up a £10,000 cheque.