CHRIS MELLING is set to join the ranks of the top snooker players -- and has become the first ever professional to play snooker, Pool and the nine-ball game at the same time.

He has just qualified for the main UK tour alongside the stars who will meet World Championships at Sheffield this weekend. The chance to hit the big time follows a superb seson which saw him finish 10th out of 483 players on the qualifying tour.

He has also been invited to take on ronnie O'Sullivan, Steve Davis and Jimmy White at Pool in Dublin in September, is Yorkshire Open Pool Champion after beating the World No2 Darren Appleton and last week beat former World Champion Joe Johnson 2-1 in an exhibition match at Pilky's Snooker Centre.

He will be playing in the World Pool Championships in Blackpool next month and has also been challenged to an £8,000 snooker showdown with World No34 Gerrard Green later in the year.

Chris also won the European Team Pool championships when he was representing England.