WORLD CHAMPIONS Chris Melling and Tony David came head-to-head last week in a battle of the 'Embassy Champs' - thanks to KN Sport.

Keighley cue ace, Chris Melling, was crowned 8-Ball Pool World Champion after sweeping aside the opposition last year and has gone on to take a string of title - including the British trick-shot crown.

Tony David became the first Australian to be crowned Embassy World Darts Champion after a fairytale 6-4 victory over Mervyn King live on BBC television in January.

Chris has come up through the ranks of the local pool and snooker leagues, and swears he never practices at pool - and only plays for fun.

But he has taken every local title going and has gone on to turn professional at both snooker and pool.

Tony David's is a remarkable story of courage and determination. He suffers from arthritic haemophilia, a serious illness which stops his blood clotting.

He has to

undergo regular acupuncture treatment, hot baths, massage and take large amounts of medication in order to play. Despite the efforts of medical staff he walks with a limp and cannot straighten his throwing arm. He is also due to undergo a course of drug treatment to help prevent cancer - but he has been warned that once it is over he will probably never throw a dart again.

"I've put it off to come back to England and play a few games," he said.

He started the World Championship as a 50-1 outsider, but Chris Melling knows a champion when he sees one.

"I backed him after watching the first round. He didn't flinch when he threw badly, and that's the sign of a really good performer at any sport.

"It's easy to look good when your doing well, but it is how you cope when things go wrong that really counts. Tony didn't let it get to him and I knew he would do well," Chris said.

The Australian played snooker and 8-Ball Pool before he threw his first dart in 1992. He had won a couple of trophies with the cue and was itching to give Melling a game. They came face-to-face across the blue baize at Bingley Working Men's Club and the darter was given the chance to break-off. He turned to pick up his point of iced water - he can't dring alcohol because of his medial condition - and by the time he had turned back Melling had cleared the table.

It was a similar story in the second frame, but this time Melling attempted a four-cushion trick shot to sink the black. He missed by a whisker but is was the opening Tony David needed as he claimed a clearance of his own. At one frame each it went down to a decider on the dart board, where the Australian showed his class.

"It's a good job I can play pool," Melling said as the darts champ raced to victory.

Despite his defeat with the 'arrows' Melling came out on top. He was so impressed with the club cue he picked out of the rack he asked to keep it, and promised to tell the story of how he got the cue when he's next on television.