Career
Appleton, who started playing pool at age 12, was formerly the world ranked northern 1 player in British-style eight-ball pool. 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.
On 5 October 2008, Appleton claimed an upset victory in the inaugural World Pet Association World Ten-ball Championship over Wu Chia-ching, 13–11, winning the United States$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
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.
In 2013, he scored a record breaking 200 run in the World Straight Pool Championship against Francisco Bustamante, winning 200-1.
This broke the following records:
The World Straight Pool Championship record of 73 events with a 175 ball run which was previously held by Thorsten Hohmann. The all time record at any major event of 183 which was set at the United States Open 14.1 by Joe Procita. First time, in a major tournament, of completing all 200 balls and finishing the game without missing a shot.
