# Darren Appleton > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Darren_Appleton > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Darren_Appleton.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Appleton > Source revision: 1350787014 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Pontefract), [West Yorkshire](/source/West_Yorkshire), [England](/source/England) | death_date = | death_place = | major titles = | other titles = | nickname = "Dynamite" | sport_country = {{ENG}} | game = [9-Ball](/source/9-Ball), [Ten-ball](/source/Ten-ball), [8-ball](/source/8-ball) | world_champ = [Ten-Ball](/source/Ten-Ball) ([2008](/source/2008_WPA_World_Ten-ball_Championship)),
[Nine-Ball](/source/Nine-Ball) ([2012](/source/2012_WPA_World_Nine-ball_Championship)),
[Heyball](/source/Eight-ball) ([2015](/source/Chinese_Eight-ball_World_Championship)) | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{GBR}} }} {{MedalSport | Men's [Nine-ball](/source/Nine-ball) }} {{MedalCompetition | [World Games](/source/World_Games) }} {{MedalGold | [2013 Cali](/source/Cue_sports_at_the_2013_World_Games) | [Singles](/source/Nine-ball_at_the_2013_World_Games_%E2%80%93_men's_singles) }} }} thumb|235px|Appleton after winning the World 9-Ball Pool Championship '''Darren Appleton''' (born 8 February 1976) is an English professional [pool](/source/Pool_(cue_sports)) player, best known for playing [Eight-ball](/source/Eight-ball), [Nine-ball](/source/Nine-ball) and [Ten-ball](/source/Ten-ball) pool.[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) Appleton won the [2008 WPA World Ten-ball Championship](/source/2008_WPA_World_Ten-ball_Championship) (the inaugural 10-ball world championship) against [Wu Jia-qing](/source/Wu_Jia-qing), of China, a former world champion in both nine-ball and eight-ball.{{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 }} Appleton is also a world champion in [nine-ball](/source/nine-ball), having won the [2012 WPA World Nine-ball Championship](/source/2012_WPA_World_Nine-ball_Championship), defeating [Li Hewen](/source/Li_Hewen) in the final. ==Career== ===Early career=== Appleton, who started playing pool at age 12,{{cite web |url=http://www.darrenappleton.com/ |title=Darren Appleton |last=Appleton |first=Darren |work=DarrenAppleton.com |publisher=self-published |location=[Pontefract](/source/Pontefract) |year=2008 |access-date=6 October 2008}} was formerly the world ranked no. 1 player in [British-style eight-ball pool](/source/Blackball_(pool)). He was twice runner-up in the [WEPF](/source/WEPF) [Eight-ball Pool World Championship](/source/List_of_world_eight-ball_champions). In 2006, he joined the [International Pool Tour](/source/International_Pool_Tour)'s [standardised eight-ball](/source/Eight-ball) competition. In 2008, he won the [Straight Pool](/source/Straight_pool) Challenge at the [Derby City Classic](/source/Derby_City_Classic). ===World Ten-ball Champion (2008–2012)=== On 5 October 2008, Appleton claimed an upset victory in the inaugural [WPA](/source/World_Pool-Billiard_Association) [Ten-ball World Championship](/source/2008_WPA_World_Ten-ball_Championship) over [Wu Jia-qing](/source/Wu_Jia-qing), 13–11, winning the [US$](/source/United_States_dollar)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."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.comCastillo, 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''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 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.{{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 }} In the same year, he won the [World Pool Masters](/source/World_Pool_Masters) tournament by defeating [Nick van den Berg](/source/Nick_van_den_Berg).{{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}} Darren Appleton also won the [2010 U.S. Open 9-ball Championship](/source/2010_U.S._Open_9-ball_Championship) against [Corey Deuel](/source/Corey_Deuel) of the United States in a match that went into extra racks.{{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 }} Appleton was a member of the victorious European team in the [2010 Mosconi Cup](/source/2010_Mosconi_Cup). He was named MVP for the tournament, after winning 5 of his 6 matches in the series.{{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}} In 2011 he defended his title, winning the [U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship](/source/U.S._Open_9-Ball_Championship) again.{{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 }} ===World Nine-ball Champion (2012–present)=== In 2012, Appleton won the [WPA World Nine-ball Championship](/source/2012_WPA_World_Nine-ball_Championship), subduing China's [Li Hewen](/source/Li_Hewen) in the final with a score of 13–12.{{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 }} Later, in 2013, he also won the [nine-ball tournament](/source/Nine-ball_at_the_World_Games_2013_%E2%80%93_men's_singles) at the [World Games 2013](/source/World_Games_2013), beating [Chang Jung-lin](/source/Chang_Jung-lin) 11–10 in the final.{{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}}{{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}} In 2014, he won the Dragon 14.1 Tournament, defeating [Shane Van Boening](/source/Shane_Van_Boening) in the final. Also he won 2014 [World Cup of Pool](/source/World_Cup_of_Pool) playing with Karl Boyes for Team England. On 2 February 2015, Darren Appleton won the 2015 [WPA World Heyball Championship](/source/List_of_world_eight-ball_champions), defeating world champion snooker player [Mark Selby](/source/Mark_Selby) 21–19 in the final.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[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. ==Titles and achievements== * 2024 Ultimate Pool Louisiana Shootout * 2017 [Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame](/source/Billiard_Congress_of_America_Hall_of_Fame) * 2017 Super Billiards Expo One Pocket Championship * 2016 [Mosconi Cup](/source/Mosconi_Cup) * 2016 Super Billiards Expo One Pocket Championship * 2015 [Mosconi Cup](/source/Mosconi_Cup) * 2015 [WPA World Heyball Championship](/source/Chinese_Eight-ball_World_Championship) * 2015 Kings Cup 10-Ball Team East vs. West * 2015 [American Straight Pool Championship](/source/American_14.1_Straight_Pool_Championship) * 2014 [Mosconi Cup](/source/Mosconi_Cup) * 2014 Accu-Stats All-Star Invitational * 2014 Dragon 14.1 Tournament * 2014 Accu-Stats 8-Ball Invitational * 2014 [American Straight Pool Championship](/source/American_14.1_Straight_Pool_Championship) * 2013 [EPBF](/source/European_Pocket_Billiard_Federation) [Player of the Year](/source/Player_of_the_Year) * 2013 [Mosconi Cup](/source/Mosconi_Cup) * 2013 [World Games Nine-ball Singles](/source/Cue_sports_at_the_World_Games) * 2013 West Coast Challenge 10-Ball * 2013 [Derby City Classic](/source/Derby_City_Classic) 14.1 Challenge * 2013 West Coast Challenge One Pocket * 2012 [Mosconi Cup](/source/Mosconi_Cup) * 2012 [International Challenge of Champions](/source/International_Challenge_of_Champions) * 2012 [WPA World Nine-ball Championship](/source/WPA_World_Nine-ball_Championship) * 2011 [Mosconi Cup](/source/Mosconi_Cup) * 2011 [U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship](/source/U.S._Open_9-Ball_Championship) * 2011 [International Challenge of Champions](/source/International_Challenge_of_Champions) * 2011 Beassy 9-Ball Open * 2011 [World Cup of Pool](/source/World_Cup_of_Pool) - with ([Karl Boyes](/source/Karl_Boyes_(pool_player))) * 2010 Billiards Digest [Player of the Year](/source/Player_of_the_Year) * 2010 [Mosconi Cup (MVP)](/source/Mosconi_Cup) * 2010 [Mosconi Cup](/source/Mosconi_Cup) * 2010 [WPA World Team Championship](/source/World_Team_Championship_(pool)) * 2010 [U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship](/source/U.S._Open_9-Ball_Championship) * 2010 [Euro Tour](/source/Euro_Tour) [Costa Blanca Open](/source/List_of_Euro_Tour_tournaments) * 2009 [World Pool Masters](/source/World_Pool_Masters) * 2008 [Derby City Classic](/source/Derby_City_Classic) 14.1 Challenge * 2009 CSI US Bar Table 10-Ball Championship * 2009 EPBF Nations Cup Championship * 2008 [Euro Tour](/source/Euro_Tour) [Italy Open](/source/List_of_Euro_Tour_tournaments) * 2008 [WPA World Ten-ball Championship](/source/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](/source/Mika_Immonen)}} {{s-bef| before=Yukio Akagariyama}} {{s-ttl| title=[WPA World Nine-ball Champion](/source/List_of_WPA_World_Nine-ball_Champions)|years=2012}} {{s-aft| after=[Thorsten Hohmann](/source/Thorsten_Hohmann)}} {{s-end}} {{World 9-ball champions}} {{Navboxes |title=Darren Appleton in [Mosconi Cup](/source/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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Darren Appleton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Appleton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Appleton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.