How Much Can UK Pool Stars Win At The 2025 World Pool Championship In Saudi Arabia?

If you’re from Yorkshire and love a bit of pool down at the pub, you might want to keep an eye on what’s happening over in Saudi Arabia this week. Two lads from Yorkshire, Chris Melling and Elliott Sanderson, are currently chalking their cues at one of the biggest pool events in the world: the World Pool Championship 2025. And it’s not just about bragging rights, there’s a massive prize pot up for grabs.

Whether you're a die-hard nineball fan or just like watching someone pull off a satisfying pot, here’s everything you need to know about what’s going on, why it matters, and how you can cheer on the local talent.

Yorkshire duo chasing pool glory on the world stage

Imagine this: you’ve grown up smashing balls around a pool table at your local club, and now you’re battling some of the world’s best in a swanky arena halfway across the world, with £185,000 on the line. That’s the reality right now for Chris Melling, from Keighley, and Elliott Sanderson, from Sheffield.

The pair are flying the flag for Yorkshire at the 2025 World Pool Championship, which kicked off on Monday, July 21 at the Green Halls of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It's the same spot that’ll host the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in August, so yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

Melling, who once played professional snooker before jumping to nineball, isn’t new to big stages like this. He’s known for his flair and fearless shots. Sanderson might not have the same fame (yet), but don’t count him out—he’s one of those dark horse types who could easily cause an upset.

What’s so special about this tournament?

First off, it’s dubbed the “Crown Jewel of Nineball”, so that tells you straight away it’s no small fry. There are 128 players from more than 40 countries, including big names like Jayson Shaw (the Scottish Mosconi Cup legend) and Fedor Gorst, who’s not only the defending champion, but also the World No. 1.

Oh, and Gorst’s nickname? The Ghost. That’s how slippery he is on the table.

He won last year’s final 15-14 in a real nail-biter against Eklent Kaçi. That made him the youngest player ever to win multiple World Pool Championship titles. No pressure, lads.

Prize money: more than just pocket change

Now let’s talk about the cash. The total prize pot is a jaw-dropping £740,000 ($1 million). That’s the biggest payout on the World Nineball Tour.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what the players could pocket, depending on how far they get:

Round	Prize (GBP)	Prize (USD)
First round	£741.95	$1,000
Last 64	£2,596.82	$3,500
Last 32	£5,193.65	$7,000
Quarter-Finals	£18,548.75	$25,000
Semi-Finals	£37,100	$50,000
Runner-up	£74,190	$100,000
Winner	£185,490	$250,000

So yeah, even getting through a few rounds can make a solid dent in your mortgage. Or fund a very fancy fish tank. Either way.

Where and how to watch the action

Good news, you don’t need a passport to see it all unfold. Matches are being shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Mix, with Anna Woolhouse presenting. If you’re more of a YouTube person, Matchroom Pool’s channel is streaming select games. You can also catch the action via WNT TV.

With so many international names in the mix, the event is turning out to be a real showcase of talent from around the globe. But for fans in Yorkshire, the spotlight is firmly on Melling and Sanderson.

Who’s representing Great Britain?

Besides the two Yorkshire stars, there are three other Brits taking part:

• Jayson Shaw (Scotland) – currently ranked No.8 in the world.
• Two other unnamed players from GB are in the mix, though they’re not quite as high-profile.

Shaw is worth keeping an eye on too, earlier this year, he broke his own world record in straight pool with an insane 832-ball run. That’s the kind of thing you do once in a lifetime, if ever.

What’s next?

The tournament runs until Saturday, July 26, so there’s still plenty of action to come. Alongside the main event, the Saudi Junior Championship is happening from July 22–25 at the same venue.

Yorkshire's best will have to overcome serious competition, including The Ghost himself, if they want to get their hands on that massive cheque. But hey, stranger things have happened in sport. And wouldn’t it be something if one of our own brought it home?

Final shot

You don’t need to know every rule of nineball to enjoy watching someone from your hometown shine on the world stage. Whether it’s Melling’s bold breaks or Sanderson’s quiet focus, the World Pool Championship is delivering drama, skill, and serious prize money, all under the bright lights of Jeddah.

So if you’ve got a few minutes this week, tune in. Who knows? You might just witness a bit of Yorkshire history in the making.