Mosconi Cup

Logo of the Mosconi Cup

The Mosconi Cup is an annual nine-ball pool tournament contested between teams representing Europe and the United States since 1994. The trophy is named after American player Willie Mosconi, and has been compared to the Ryder Cup in golf.[1]

Team Europe beat USA 11-4 on 7 December 2017. Europe have won the tournament 12 times, USA 11 times, and they tied once. Team Europe has won the last 8 consecutive tournaments.

Player selection

In its earliest days, the Mosconi Cup was created by Sky Sports and Matchroom Sport as an exhibition event to increase public awareness of pool in the United Kingdom. In the first year of competition some of the WPBA's top players played alongside the men in their respective teams. These included Franziska Stark from Germany, Allison Fisher from England, Jeanette Lee and Vivian Villarreal from the United States.

As time progressed, the event evolved from its exhibition nature into a much more serious and professional tournament, and earning a place in the event has acquired a great deal of prestige. In early runnings of the event, many famous snooker players participated, but only Steve Davis continued into the event's more serious era, bowing out when the event began to clash with snooker's UK Championship (at which he appeared as both a player and a BBC commentator).

After Davis' withdrawal, all players had to earn an invitation through their performances at other events, meaning that no more snooker players appeared until 2007, when Tony Drago earned a place by virtue of his performance on the European Pool Tour, and won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award for his unbeaten run in the singles matches.

Player appearances

The players to have appeared in the Mosconi Cup:[2]

Legend P = playing team member NP = non-playing member

Player representation

European nations

The total number of nations who have represented Europe is thirteen (in order of total representatives, alphabetically in the case of ties):

Number of players by country
15:   England 6:   Germany 4:   Netherlands 2:   Sweden 1:   Austria
1:   Finland 1:   France 1:   Greece 1:   Italy 1:   Malta
1:   Northern Ireland 1:   Republic of Ireland 1:   Russia 1:   Scotland 1:   Spain

American states

The total number of states who have represented the United States is twenty-one (in order of total representatives, alphabetically in the case of ties; Charlie Williams and Johan Ruijsink were both born outside of the US):

Number of players by state
4:   California 4:   Illinois 4:   Texas 3:   Kentucky 3:   New York
3:   North Carolina 3:   Pennsylvania 2:   New Jersey 2:   Ohio 1:   Florida
1:   Georgia 1:   Kansas 1:   Maine 1:   Maryland 1:   Michigan
1:   Mississippi 1:   Missouri 1:   Oklahoma 1:   South Dakota 1:   Tennessee
1:   Virginia

Tournament modifications

There have been rule changes and format changes throughout the tournament's brief history. These include, but are not limited to: "Non-playing captain" roles were introduced in the 2003 event; however these were removed in the 2004 tournament. In 2004 the doubles matches were re-formatted to be scotch doubles. In 2005, a 30-second shot clock was introduced, and caused controversy due to timing malfunctions. The 2006 tournament started with a team-versus-team match followed by two trebles matches. That year also saw the reintroduction of the non-playing captain role.

The 2009 tournament included several new features:[4]

  • No pairing in the doubles matches could be repeated.
  • The event included four blocks of consecutive matches, organized so that five slots were available for each side, in which every player was required to play exactly once.
  • In two singles matches, each player was selected by the opposing team captain.

Results table

Year Venue Victors Score Losers MVP Ref
1994 Romford, London, England  USA 16–12  Europe [5]
1995 Basildon, Essex, England  Europe 16–15  USA [6]
1996 Dagenham, London, England  USA 15–13  Europe [7]
1997 Bethnal Green, London, England  USA 13–8  Europe [8]
1998 Bethnal Green, London, England  USA 13–9  Europe [9]
1999 Bethnal Green, London, England  USA 12–7  Europe [10]
2000 Bethnal Green, London, England  USA 12–9  Europe [11]
2001 Bethnal Green, London, England  USA 12–1  Europe [12]
2002 Bethnal Green, London, England  Europe 12–9  USA [13]
2003 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  USA 11–9  Europe Finland Mika Immonen [14][15]
2004 Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands  USA 12–9  Europe United States Rodney Morris [16][17]
2005 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  USA 11–6  Europe United States Earl Strickland [18][19]
2006 Rotterdam, Netherlands  Tied 12–12  Tied United States Corey Deuel [20][21]
2007 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  Europe 11–8  USA Malta Tony Drago [22][23]
2008 St. Julian's, Malta  Europe 11–5  USA Finland Mika Immonen [24][25]
2009 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  USA 11–7  Europe United States Dennis Hatch [26][27]
2010 Bethnal Green, London, England  Europe 11–8  USA England Darren Appleton [28]
2011 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  Europe 11–7  USA Netherlands Niels Feijen [29][30]
2012 Bethnal Green, London, England  Europe 11–9  USA England Chris Melling [31][32]
2013 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  Europe 11–2  USA Netherlands Niels Feijen [33][34]
2014 Tower Circus, Blackpool, England  Europe 11–5  USA Netherlands Niels Feijen [35][36]
2015 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  Europe 11–7  USA Netherlands Niels Feijen [37]
2016 Alexandra Palace, London, England  Europe 11–3  USA Austria Albin Ouschan [38]
2017 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA  Europe 11–4  USA Germany Joshua Filler
2018 Alexandra Palace, London, England

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mark Prepares for Pool's Biggest Test". Rutland & Stamford Mercury. Stamford, Lincolnshire: Johnston Pr. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  2. ↑ "Tournament History". Matchroom Pool. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Paul Gerni". Official website. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Mosconi Cup Event Information: Format". Matchroom Pool. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  5. ↑ "Europe 12–16 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Europe 16–15 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  7. ↑ "Europe 13–15 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  8. ↑ "Europe 8–13 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  9. ↑ "Europe 9–13 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  10. ↑ "Europe 7–12 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  11. ↑ "Europe 9–12 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  12. ↑ "Europe 1–12 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  13. ↑ "Europe 12–9 USA". Mosconi Cup. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  14. ↑ "Results". Mosconi Cup. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Surge, Regain Mosconi Cup". Billiards Digest. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "Europe 9–12 USA". Mosconi Cup 2004. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  17. ↑ "I'm So Proud Of The Guys". Mosconi Cup 2004. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  18. ↑ "Europe 6–11 USA". Mosconi Cup 2006. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  19. ↑ "Archer: We Showed Our Heart". Mosconi Cup 2005. Archived from the original on 20 September 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  20. ↑ "Europe 12–12 USA". Matchroom Pool. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  21. ↑ "Archer: We Showed So Much Heart". Mosconi Cup 2006. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  22. ↑ "Europe 8–11 USA". Matchroom Pool. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  23. ↑ "Delight for MVP Drago and Europe". mosconicup.com. Matchroom Sport. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "Europe 11–5 USA". Matchroom Pool. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  25. ↑ "Mika: Victory banishes ghosts of 06". Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
  26. ↑ "Europe 7–11 USA". Mosconi Cup. 13 December 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  27. ↑ "USA describe their pride at regaining Mosconi Cup". Matchroom Pool. 14 November 2009. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  28. ↑ "Europe win the 2010 Mosconi Cup". Matchroom Sport. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  29. ↑ "Feijen brings it home for Europe". Inside Pool. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  30. ↑ "Europe hit the jackpot in Las Vegas". matchroompool.com. Matchroom Sport. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  31. ↑ "Mosconi Cup moves to a midweek slot". Matchroom Sport. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  32. ↑ "Europe retain Mosconi Cup". Matchroom Sport. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  33. ↑ "Mirage named as 2013 venue". Kozoom.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  34. ↑ "Mosconi Cup XX Live Blog". matchroompool.com. Matchroom Sport. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  35. ↑ "Blackpool Tower Circus to host 2014 Mosconi Cup". matchroompool.com. Matchroom Sport. 15 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  36. ↑ "Mosconi Cup: Europe wrap up victory over USA in Blackpool". Sky Sports. 4 December 2014. Archived from the original on 6 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  37. ↑ "New Tropicana in Las Vegas to host 2015 Mosconi Cup". Sky Sports. 19 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  38. ↑ "EUROPE WIN BETFAIR MOSCONI CUP XXIII". Matchroom Pool. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 10 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
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