Mark Mills
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Mark Mills is a British professional pool player.
He was born in Warrington, and brought up from age 2 until 9 in Gorton, Manchester. Later he lived in Stockport, Cheshire where he still resides.
Mark first played the UK Pool from the age of 13 at the pub where his mother worked. He played for the Men's team when he was only 14; and was player of the season, winning 13 out of 18 matches.
At the age of 19 Mark qualified for the BAPTO UK Finals at Blackpool Tower Ballroom. He won through to the semi-finals before losing to Ross McInnes. Mark had beaten the invited Eddie Charlton 5-2 in the last 16 .
He reached the last eight of the European Championships, before going down to Keith Brewer. Mark won many other county and local competitions, including his last title, before retiring from the UK eight ball scene in 1996, the Stockport & District Individual title beating Geoff Harkness 5-2 in the final.
Mark took a couple of years out of the pool scene before discovering US 9-Ball Pool, whilst on a snooker tour in Toronto, Canada with Cliff Thorburn, Kirk Stevens and Tony Crosby. In Mark's first year on the UK Pro US Pool tour he reached 4th in the UK tour rankings, Mills has also hit 57th position on the European Open Tour and 71st in the world rankings and still climbing. He has been coached by Paul Medati, with help from Tony Drago and Daryl Peach.
Mark has played all over the world and still does: Prague in the Czech Republic, Sindlefingen in Germany, Austria, Poland, Denmark, Belgium. Mark says you cannot beat the USA for atmosphere. In 2004 and again in 2005 Mills took part in the World Pool Championships, which both times was in Taiwan. The 2006 world championships in November will see him travel to Manila in the Philippines.
Mark has started a new UK 8 Ball Tour (US Style) with Daryl Peach, the Empire Pool Tour (EPT), which is expected to build on the new International Pool Tour
On 12th August 2006 Ronnie O'Sullivan made his debut on Mark Mills new EPT Tour as well as other former Snooker Professional Patsy Fagan, Jimmy White is expected to make his Tour debut for Mark in the next tour event.
In March 2007 Mark Mills was organisor of the biggest pool event ever to be held in the UK, The event was the Grand Masters 8-Ball Open (US Style) held at Mickey Flynns in Cambridge, the event was won by Mosconi Cup Team member David Alcaide of Spain after beating Englands Imran Majid in the final, other players in the event included Dutch Superstars Neils Feijen and Nick Van Den Berg, whilst Germanys representive was Ralf Souquet, others players in the event were Italian Fabio Petroni, and Hungarys Vilmos Foldes, whilst Malta's representitive and great pal of Mark Mills Tony Drago who Mills now manages.
Mark Mills has also another talent, for Crown Green Bowls. In 2001 Mark was Manager of the Ireland team during the world team championships in Rhyl, Wales. He played in Ireland's games against Wales, going down 21-12 to David Jones.
Mark is married to Tracey and has three children.
