TWO Keighley-based players had mixed fortunes at a prestigious national pool competition.

Chris Melling and Arfan Dad were two of the 256 players who took part in the UK Open Pool Championships held at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Both of the town’s players were knocked out of the tournament at the loser round four stage.

Melling got off to a great start at the event, storming to a 9-0 whitewash win over Petr Urban of the Czech Republic in the winner’s first round.

After this commanding victory, Melling tweeted: “Felt nervous but that’s sometimes a good thing.”

 

The Keighley potter followed this up in the winner’s second round with an exciting 9-8 victory over Ireland’s Ian McCormick.

But Melling came unstuck in the winner round three, as he crashed out following a 9-2 defeat to Alexander Kazakis, of Greece, on May 19.

There was a further clash at the tournament for Melling, but he also ended up on the losing end, as he fell to a 9-6 defeat against Imran Majid in the loser round four.

Meanwhile, Dad also made it to the loser round four stage of the tournament held in London.

Dad kicked off his involvement with a 9-4 victory over Greece’s Vettas Evangelos in the opening winner round.

This was followed up by Dad losing 9-7 to Estonia’s Mark Magi in winner round two.

Dad recovered in loser round two to beat fellow British player, Joe Granville, 9-2.

Dad continued his upturn in form at the tournament as he defeated Poland’s Bart Czapla 9-6 in their loser round three contest.

But Dad’s tournament came to an end in the loser round four following a 9-6 loss to USA’s Nicolas De Leon.

The inaugural UK Open Pool Championship was eventually won by Germany’s Joshua Filler, who defeated Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 13-7 in the final.

It is the latest tournament heartache for Melling this year as he could only make it to the last 96 of the World Pool Championship, which was held in March.

Losing his first match 9-2 to eighth seed Joshua Filler, he kept his hopes alive by thumping Dino Nair 9-1 in his next match.

But he went out after losing 9-4 to Belgium's Bahram Lofty.

Meanwhile, Dad failed to qualify from his Ultimate Pool Champions League group in March, as only winners went through.

Melling advanced to the last-16 of the competition, which will take place later in the year.