Chris Melling is celebrating after helping Europe retain the Mosconi Cup.

The Keighley potter’s debut in the annual Ryder Cup-style pool competition was a happy one as he played a key role in helping beat the United States 11-7.

Melling has only been playing the American nine-ball version of the game for two years professionally but he showed few signs of nerves as Europe silenced the home crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Its definitely the greatest moment of my life, playing on television live,” he said.

“To make the Mosconi Cup team and play in front of all these people has been fantastic. It’s a great tournament and a great atmosphere to be involved in.

“They (the United States players) had the home support and they are very patriotic.

“They always get behind their team but we had a lot of fans travel from Europe.

“I also had massive support at home from all the people in Keighley. They had it on in the pubs and were selling tickets there.”

Melling had already enjoyed a fine season which included winning the China Open, one of the biggest events on the tour.

He narrowly missed out on the Mosconi Cup last year but his selection for the five-man team was assured this time around after topping the European ranking list.

Melling, 32, played a key role right from the opening match of the 2011 tournament, which featured all ten players.

Each rack in the first-to-six format was contested by two players and it was the Keighley potter who won the deciding point.

His fellow West Yorkshireman Darren Appleton, from Pontefract, said: “Chris didn’t get a shot in the first game but managed to win the rack that won us the point and I think he will go on and play very well.”

It did not go Melling’s way in his opening pairs match as he and Nick Van den Berg lost 6-3 to Johnny Archer and Shawn Putnam after holding a 3-1 advantage.

But Europe went on to lead 4-1 at the end of the first day, with Melling overturning a 3-0 deficit in the final match-up to edge out Shane Van Boening 6-5.

The Americans started day two in style to draw level at 4-4, which included Putnam and Rodney Morris beating Melling and Appleton 6-5.

But Europe turned things round to win the last two points of the day, wrapped up by Melling and Ralf Souquet defeating Van Boening and Putnam 6-2.

Melling said: “The key is always to try and win the session, whether it’s 3-2, 4-1 or 5-0. From 3-0 down to only lose 3-2, that’s a massive achievement.”

Melling only played one singles match on day three but his 6-2 win against Mike Dechaine was last up and took Europe to within a point of overall victory.

“Luckily for me I’ve potted the really big shots when I needed to make them,” said Melling.

“I missed a few but I was feeling the pressure a little bit. The tables are quite quick, so that makes the angles completely different.

“People at home don’t realise the amount of pressure you’re under. You are playing for the whole continent, plus your friends.”

The final day, as with golf’s Ryder Cup, was singles matches only and Melling was down to play in the last of the five.

It looked as though it could go to the wire as the Americans won the first two matches, before Dutchman Niels Feijen beat Morris 6-3 to spark European celebrations.