After the break, Melling sank the 3-ball at the New York tournament. His objective was to pocket the 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 balls in any order, finishing with the 8-ball. Except for the 1-ball, the remaining balls were well-positioned near the pockets. However, the cue ball wasn't ideal for his first target, the 4-ball.
After assessing the angles, Melling decided to use the 13-ball as a cushion to nudge the 4-ball closer to the pocket. His plan was for the cue ball to hit the long rail, strike the 13-ball, and then impact the 4-ball into the pocket. The then 38-year-old's strategy worked perfectly. However, the cue ball ended up behind the 13-ball, with no direct shot at any target ball.
After an unsuccessful attempt at a bank shot on the 7-ball, Melling returned to the cue ball, holding his cue almost vertically, signaling a masse shot. This technique, known for its difficulty, is primarily seen in artistic billiards.
Melling executed the masse flawlessly in this competitive match. The cue ball curved, striking the 2-ball into the pocket. "Oh, look at that. Give this guy a round of applause," exclaimed the commentator. "Melling just executed two classic shots in a row. Absolutely insane."
Melling easily pocketed the next three balls: the 5, 6, and 7. The challenge arose with the 1-ball, blocked by the 8-ball from the corner pocket. Despite this, he called the corner pocket and executed a 4-rail bank shot, sinking the 1-ball. "Oh, amazing shot. Oh my God. Oh my God," the commentator shouted. "This is probably the best shot I've ever seen."
Before dropping into the pocket, the 1-ball passed through several other balls on the table. This shot required Melling's deep understanding of the diamond system on a pool table.
The English player quickly finished the rack, sinking the 8-ball to take a 2-1 lead in the race-to-9 match. His opponent, Mika Immonen, approached and shook Melling's hand in acknowledgment, even though the match was still ongoing.
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Melling on day two of the 2023 Premier Pool League in Leicester, England. Photo: Matchroom |
Melling on day two of the 2023 Premier Pool League in Leicester, England. Photo: Matchroom
Melling ultimately won 9-3, advancing to the round of 16, while Immonen was eliminated without any prize money. After the match, Melling stated that the most difficult shot was the 4-rail bank on the 1-ball. "If I tried that shot 40 times, I'd probably only make it once," he said.
Eight years later, the video of Melling's break and run surpassed 25 million views on 17/9. Geni Pool called it the greatest break and run in billiards history.
Born in 1979 in Bradford, UK, Melling is a two-time world eight-ball champion. He also regularly competes in snooker, English billiards, and nine-ball.
Xuan Binh
