{{Short description|English pool player (born 1976)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox pool player | name = Darren Appleton | birth_name = | fullname = | nationality = | residence = | image = Darren Appleton 2012.jpg | caption = Appleton at the World 9-Ball Pool Championship in Doha, 2012 | birth_date = {{birth date and age text|8 February 1976}} | birth_place = Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England | death_date = | death_place = | major titles = | other titles = | nickname = "Dynamite" | sport_country = {{ENG}} | game = 9-Ball, Ten-ball, 8-ball | world_champ = Ten-Ball (2008), <br /> Nine-Ball (2012), <br /> Heyball (2015) | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{GBR}} }} {{MedalSport | Men's Nine-ball }} {{MedalCompetition | World Games }} {{MedalGold | 2013 Cali | Singles }} }} thumb|235px|Appleton after winning the World 9-Ball Pool Championship
'''Darren Appleton''' (born 8 February 1976) is an English professional pool player, best known for playing Eight-ball, Nine-ball and Ten-ball pool.<ref name="IPM 200810">[http://www.insidepoolmag.com/200810/billiard-news/dynamite-blasts-world-10-ball-championship.html "Dynamite Blasts World 10-Ball Championship"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810112907/http://www.insidepoolmag.com/200810/billiard-news/dynamite-blasts-world-10-ball-championship.html |date=10 August 2018 }}. insidepoolmag.com (October 2008)</ref>
Appleton won the 2008 WPA World Ten-ball Championship (the inaugural 10-ball world championship) against Wu Jia-qing, of China, a former world champion in both nine-ball and eight-ball.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=5817 |title=Appleton Wins World Ten Ball Championship |publisher=AzBilliards.com |date=5 October 2008 |access-date=5 October 2008 |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024011440/http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=5817 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Appleton is also a world champion in nine-ball, having won the 2012 WPA World Nine-ball Championship, defeating Li Hewen in the final.
==Career== ===Early career=== Appleton, who started playing pool at age 12,<ref name="Appleton 2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.darrenappleton.com/ |title=Darren Appleton |last=Appleton |first=Darren |work=DarrenAppleton.com |publisher=self-published |location=Pontefract |year=2008 |access-date=6 October 2008}}</ref> was formerly the world ranked no. 1 player in British-style eight-ball pool.<ref name="Appleton 2008" /> He was twice runner-up in the WEPF Eight-ball Pool World Championship. In 2006, he joined the International Pool Tour's standardised eight-ball competition. In 2008, he won the Straight Pool Challenge at the Derby City Classic.
===World Ten-ball Champion (2008–2012)=== On 5 October 2008, Appleton claimed an upset victory in the inaugural WPA Ten-ball World Championship over Wu Jia-qing, 13–11, winning the US$100,000 top prize: "I've waited 16 years for this and have to enjoy the moment. I had mixed feelings and I was looking back at my disappointments in the past. I was ranked first (earlier in the decade) in the world but I have never won a world championship... It was a dream come true for me and I'm happy to win the title here in the Philippines."<ref>Joble, Rey (October 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081009084739/http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports2_oct6_2008 "Appleton's 16-year Wait Over"]. manilastandardtoday.com</ref><ref>Castillo, Musong R. (6 October 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20130620203141/http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20081006-164768/Appleton-nips-Wu-for-title-Pulpul-4th "Appleton Nips Wu for Title; Pulpul 4th"]. ''Philippine Daily Inquirer''</ref><ref>Gasgonia, Dennis (5 October 2008) [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/10/05/08/appleton-makes-history-1st-world-ten-ball-champ "Appleton Makes History as 1st World Ten Ball Champ"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208154853/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/10/05/08/appleton-makes-history-1st-world-ten-ball-champ |date=8 December 2008 }}. abs-cbnnews.com</ref>
In May 2009, Appleton challenged Dennis Hatch of the United States in a three-day race-to-100 challenge match of ten-ball. Hatch, however, came out the victor with a score of 100–83.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?id=6516 |title=Hatch over Appleton |date=8 May 2009 |access-date=9 May 2009 |author=Katy Moore |publisher=AzBilliards.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515143613/http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?id=6516 |archive-date=15 May 2009 }}</ref> In the same year, he won the World Pool Masters tournament by defeating Nick van den Berg.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?id=6541 |title=Appleton Takes Masters Crown at First Attempt |date=11 May 2009 |access-date=11 May 2009 |author=Matchroom Sport |publisher=AzBilliards.com |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225082717/http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?id=6541 |archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref>
Darren Appleton also won the 2010 U.S. Open 9-ball Championship against Corey Deuel of the United States in a match that went into extra racks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=8094 |title=Appleton wins US Open |date=23 October 2010 |access-date=24 October 2010 |author=Skip Maloney |publisher=AzBilliards.com |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024012034/http://azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=8094 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Appleton was a member of the victorious European team in the 2010 Mosconi Cup. He was named MVP for the tournament, after winning 5 of his 6 matches in the series.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-12-13|title=Matchroom Pool {{!}} Mosconi Cup {{!}} News {{!}} News {{!}} EUROPE WIN THE 2010 MOSCONI CUP|url=http://www.matchroompool.com/page/MosconiCup/NewsDetail/0,,12660~2242880,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714051242/http://www.matchroompool.com/page/MosconiCup/NewsDetail/0,,12660~2242880,00.html|archive-date=2011-07-14|access-date=|website=matchroompool.com}}</ref> In 2011 he defended his title, winning the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship again.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lerner|first=Ted|date=2013-09-07|title='I Keep Pinching Myself'|url=https://wpapool.com/i-keep-pinching-myself/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-24|website=wpapool.com|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026072026/https://wpapool.com/i-keep-pinching-myself/ |archive-date=26 October 2020 }}</ref>
===World Nine-ball Champion (2012–present)=== In 2012, Appleton won the WPA World Nine-ball Championship, subduing China's Li Hewen in the final with a score of 13–12.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=10155 |title=Its Dynamite in Doha |date=29 June 2012 |access-date=29 June 2012 |author=Ted Lerner |publisher=AzBilliards.com |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024012037/http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.php?storynum=10155 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Later, in 2013, he also won the nine-ball tournament at the World Games 2013, beating Chang Jung-lin 11–10 in the final.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepoolscene.com/straight-pool-14-1-rotation/dynamite-darren-appleton-breaks-world-record-14-1-perfect-200-run |title=DYNAMITE!! Darren Appleton Breaks World Record in 14.1 : Perfect 200 Run |date=24 August 2013 |access-date=8 June 2015 |author=Charlie Williams |publisher=thePoolScene.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T425-DvtWk |title=World 14.1 Record Darren Appleton Vs. Fransisco[sic] Bustamante 2013 |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=8 June 2015 |work=www.Muellers.com}}</ref> In 2014, he won the Dragon 14.1 Tournament, defeating Shane Van Boening in the final. Also he won 2014 World Cup of Pool playing with Karl Boyes for Team England. On 2 February 2015, Darren Appleton won the 2015 WPA World Heyball Championship, defeating world champion snooker player Mark Selby 21–19 in the final.<ref>Lai, Samuel (12 February 2015) [https://web.archive.org/web/20150217213854/http://alison-chang.com/darren-appleton-and-bai-ge-won-the-first-chinese-pool-champion/ Darren Appleton and Bai Ge Won the First Chinese Pool Champion]. alison-chang.com</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAaL7ZERSxA Mark Selby v Darren Appleton, Final 2015 Chinese Pool World Championship]. YouTube.com (2 February 2015). Retrieved on 17 June 2016.</ref>
==Titles and achievements== * 2024 Ultimate Pool Louisiana Shootout * 2017 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame * 2017 Super Billiards Expo One Pocket Championship * 2016 Mosconi Cup * 2016 Super Billiards Expo One Pocket Championship * 2015 Mosconi Cup * 2015 WPA World Heyball Championship * 2015 Kings Cup 10-Ball Team East vs. West * 2015 American Straight Pool Championship * 2014 Mosconi Cup * 2014 Accu-Stats All-Star Invitational * 2014 Dragon 14.1 Tournament * 2014 Accu-Stats 8-Ball Invitational * 2014 American Straight Pool Championship * 2013 EPBF Player of the Year * 2013 Mosconi Cup * 2013 World Games Nine-ball Singles * 2013 West Coast Challenge 10-Ball * 2013 Derby City Classic 14.1 Challenge * 2013 West Coast Challenge One Pocket * 2012 Mosconi Cup * 2012 International Challenge of Champions * 2012 WPA World Nine-ball Championship * 2011 Mosconi Cup * 2011 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship * 2011 International Challenge of Champions * 2011 Beassy 9-Ball Open * 2011 World Cup of Pool - with (Karl Boyes) * 2010 Billiards Digest Player of the Year * 2010 Mosconi Cup (MVP) * 2010 Mosconi Cup * 2010 WPA World Team Championship * 2010 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship * 2010 Euro Tour Costa Blanca Open * 2009 World Pool Masters * 2008 Derby City Classic 14.1 Challenge * 2009 CSI US Bar Table 10-Ball Championship * 2009 EPBF Nations Cup Championship * 2008 Euro Tour Italy Open * 2008 WPA World Ten-ball Championship * 2007 International 8-ball Championship * 2006 BCA Grand Masters 8-ball
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Darren Appleton}} *[http://www.darrenappleton.com/ Appleton's official website]
{{s-start}} {{s-non| reason=Inaugural champion}} {{s-ttl| title=WPA World Ten-ball Champion| years=2008}} {{s-aft| after=Mika Immonen}} {{s-bef| before=Yukio Akagariyama}} {{s-ttl| title=WPA World Nine-ball Champion|years=2012}} {{s-aft| after=Thorsten Hohmann}} {{s-end}}
{{World 9-ball champions}} {{Navboxes |title=Darren Appleton in Mosconi Cup |list1= {{2009 European Mosconi Cup team}} {{2010 European Mosconi Cup team}} {{2011 European Mosconi Cup team}} {{2012 European Mosconi Cup team}} {{2013 European Mosconi Cup team}} {{2014 European Mosconi Cup team}} {{2015 European Mosconi Cup team}} {{2016 European Mosconi Cup team}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Appleton, Darren}} Category:English pool players Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:World champions in pool Category:World Games gold medalists for Great Britain Category:World Games medalists in cue sports Category:WPA World Nine-ball Champions Category:WPA World Ten-ball Champions Category:Medalists at the 2013 World Games Category:Straight pool world champions Category:Sportspeople from Pontefract Category:21st-century English sportsmen