TWICE World Pool Champion Chris 'The Magician' Melling is looking to become a snooker sensation after agreeing a management deal with the legendary Jimmy White.

One of snooker's all time best-loved players, White believes with his help, Melling can become a real force in the game and perhaps break into the top echelons of the world snooker rankings.

Speaking from Spain where he is currently on holiday, the six times World Championship finalist was in typically buoyant mood about his latest endeavour.

He said: "Chris is the most exciting pool player I've seen in a long, long time.

"And we want to bring all that excitement into his snooker game now.

"I'm very happy and am hoping for a long and successful experience working with Chris.

"We're going to cut back on the pool side of things and concentrate on the snooker. We'll look to get him into events and then take it all from there."

Melling has only recently completed an eight-week tour of Ireland with White, with the pair playing exhibition matches in venues throughout Northern and Southern Ireland.

Melling said: "I'm the first player Jimmy has ever managed so it's a massive honour for me. It will be a three-year contract with him.

"He said that I have the talent and potential to get into the top 16 rankings.

"Everybody knows Jimmy White, everybody loves him, so just to be talked about in the same sentence as him is unbelievable really."

First of all though, Melling is due to take on some of the world's top pool players on his home ground this weekend.

Pilky's Sports club will be the scene of two days of top pool action with top performers including current World Champion, Mick 'The Machine' Hill.

"They will all be wanting to get Chris out of the way," said Harold Pilkingon.

"The pressure will be on for him to put on a good show but that won't worry Chris. When he is in 'the zone' it is uncanny." Pilkington said the public were free to come along to the weekend's event.