Team USA Dominating the European Team at the Mosconi Cup

The 2009 Mosconi Cup  showdown between Team USA and Team Europe is now through Day 2, and NYC Grind is receiving full reports on the action from reporter Geoff Conway.

Although Team Europe was anticipated to be the strong favorite, the USA has shown that they are not to be underestimated, finishing Day 1 with a 4-1 lead, and also dominating through Day 2, by a 7-2 score.

Along with daily, in-depth coverage, NYC Grind is proud to bring you photos from the Mosconi Cup courtesy of Ricky Bryant of Inside English magazine.

Read on for the details on Thursday’s Day 1 matches, and stay on the NYC Grind for more reports on the 2009 Mosconi Cup…

MOSCONI CUP DAY 1: DECEMBER 10, 2009

FIRST 9 BALL MATCH USING ALL TEAM MEMBERS IN ROTATIONAL PLAY

By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff “Pool Junkie” Conway

I have just found what I think is the best spot in the bleachers to watch the Mosconi Cup Matches that are about to unfold in front of me in twenty minutes. They have just opened the doors to allow the spectators to enter the arena, and they are wearing an array of colors, but mostly red, white, and blue. Many of the fans have those very high hats signifying the colors of the American flag. It’s clear to see that they have come to enjoy themselves, and root for their favorite players.

The event, which is produced by Matchroom Sport from the UK, has been run a very professional show, as witnessed by the rehearsals that I sat through in the run up to the real thing, which started at 11:00 am west coast time, and would conclude at 4:00 pm, with an actual finish time of at 4:45 pm.

The format of the first match was to showcase every member of both teams, allowing for the audience to get familiarized with all of the players before they got down to the regular one-on-one games, and the scotch doubles games, which matched two players from each team, and used an alternate-shot routine.

In the first match, Mika and Corey lagged for the break, with Mika winning the lag. And then, the European team elected to have Niels Feijen break. Niels made a ball on the break, and then it was Mika’s turn to play, and he made the 2 ball, but scratched. The USA team then made a ball each, until Dennis made the 9 ball to win the first game. Score 1-0 to Team USA.

In the second game, in which Johnny broke.  This match used an alternate-break format, in which three balls would have to go past the head string on the break. The incoming player after the infringement did not get ball in hand, but could elect to either take the table as they were, or he could make the breaker shoot again.  He made a ball, and the next three players all made a ball, until Dennis missed the five ball. This Euro team then made a ball each, with Mika dropping the nine for the win, putting the score line at 1-1.

Rack three saw Thorsten breaking, but not managing to drop a ball. It looked like Team USA had this one in the bag when they made ball after ball right up to the 8 ball. However, it was Oscar who was the first one to show his nerves when he missed a fairly straightforward 8 ball. Darren then came to the plate and also missed.  Now it was Corey’

s turn at the 8 ball, but he also misses it. Talk about a comedy of errors.

“Steady Eddie” Ralf then went to the table, and finally made the 8 ball, with Niels taking the 9 ball for the game. I guess that we were witnessing a show of nerves from quite a few of the players in this particular game. Although there were quite a few errors made throughout the matches, this was probably the worst example. Score 1-2 to Team Europe.

In the following game, Dennis breaks and makes the 2 ball, but scratches, leaving Team Europe to go through there complete rotation with Mika making the 9 ball. Score now at 1-3 to Team Europe.

Ralf broke rack five, but dropped nothing. Johnny stepped up to start running the rack, going through the complete rotation with Oscar making the 9 ball. Score now 2-3 to Team Europe.

Rack six saw Corey break, then Dennis played a bad safe, letting in Niels and Mika to make the 1 and 2 ball. Thorsten then missed the three ball, and Johnny got up to make the three, with Shane playing safe on the five ball. Ralf misses and gives ball in hand to Oscar to make the five ball. USA then go through the rotation until Shane makes the 9 ball. Score now 3-3.

In rack seven, Ralf comes up dry on the break, and Oscar decides to push. Niels gives it back to him, and Oscar tries to kick safe, but leaves Niels a shot which he makes. Europe then go through their rotation, with Darren making the 9 ball. Score now 3-4 to Team Europe.

Rack eight saw Corey break make a ball but have no shot on the 2 ball, which was blocked by the 7. Dennis tried to thin the 2 ball and escape down town for the safe, but got a double kiss, and left Ralf a shot.

Ralf and Niels make the 2 and 3 ball , but surprisingly Mika misses the 4 ball. This left an easy out for the USA Team with Johnny making the 9 ball. Score now 4-4.

Thorsten breaks game 9 and comes up dry. Shane starts the run out which goes up to the 5 by Dennis, then Johnny plays a phenomenal safe on the 6 ball. Darren has to try a three rail kick, but misses, leaving an easy run out which finished with Dennis making the 9 ball. Score now 5-4 to Team USA.

It looked like Team Europe might pull the score back to 5-5 after Corey missed a hard 3-9 combo, letting in Niels to make the 3 ball, but then Darren left a hard cut on the 7 ball after making the 6 ball. Ralf misses the 7 ball, and Team USA, win the game with Johnny making the 8 ball and Dennis delivering the final blow, making the 9 ball.  Score 6-4 to Team USA.

Although this was an entertaining format, I would point out that it did not lend itself to letting the fans see players necessarily playing their best game.  As there is, in my opinion too much discussion as to where to leave the ball for their oncoming player. This causes them not to free stroke as they are trying to concentrate so much on putting the ball in an exact spot. It was nice to see the players free stroking in the singles games that followed. These guys are professionals and know where to leave the ball for their partner, but they may lose the continuity of their normal playing style in this back-and-forth game.

Overall, the first match was a bit messy, but I think it allowed both teams to get rid of their cobwebs, and also lose some of the nerves that showed in this match.

 

MOSCONI CUP DAY 1, MATCH 2:

DOUBLES MATCH BETWEEN TEAM EUROPE - NIELS FEIJEN (NED) & DARREN APPLETON (UK) vs TEAM USA’- JOHNNY ARCHER & DENNIS HATCH

Johnny and Niels lag for the break. Johnny wins with a perfect lag. Johnny scratches on the break. Niels and Darren proceed to run out the rack with Darren making the 9 ball. Score 0-1 to Team Europe.

Niels breaks and leaves no shot for Darren, so Darren elects to play safe. Dennis misses the 2 ball, and Niels then makes it, but leaves Darren a hard 3 ball. Darren misses and leaves easy runout for the US pairing, with Dennis making the 9-ball. Score now 1-1.

Dennis breaks rack three, and comes up with nada. Niels pushes, and Johnny declines. Niels had lined up a 1-5 combo for a jump, which he duly executed, then pocketing the five ball with a full-length of the table shot. Unfortunately, he left Darren nothing, so he had to play safe.

Johnny then played a better safe, and Niels returned with another. Dennis then came up with a great safe, and just locked the balls together. Darren misses, and leaves the run out for Team USA. Score now 2-1 to Team USA.

Darren breaks rack four and comes up dry. Johnny plays the 2 ball and gets perfect position for a 3-9 combo for his buddy Dennis. Score now going the wrong way for Team Europe, with USA leading 3-1.

Johnny breaks rack five and makes the 9 ball. Score now Team USA 4-1.

Darren breaks rack six making nothing oin the break, Johnny kicks at the 2 ball and leaves Niels safe. Niels kicks at the 2 ball and makes it in the side pocket,. (a great shot) Darren makes a long shot on the 3 ball. Niels has to play a safe. Dennis kicks at it and leaves Niels a shot. Team Europe’s run out the rack. Score now 4-2 to Team USA.

Dennis breaks rack seven and makes a ball, Johnny makes a really tough cut on the 1 ball, to set up an easy run out for Team USA. Score now 5-2 to Team USA.

Darren comes dry on rack eight, and Dennis plays perfect from the 1 to the 2 ball. Johnny plays a safe, and Niels scratches trying to hit the ball. Dennis plays a safe and Darren makes the hit and leaves Johnny safe. Johnny kicks and misses. Euro boys run out. Score now 5-3 to Team USA.

Johnny breaks rack nine and scratches, leaving easy run out for Team Europe. Score now 5-4 to Team USA.

Niels breaks rack ten, Darren plays safe on Dennis. Dennis misses the 2 ball. Team Europe have an easy run out to level the match. Score now 5-5.

Dennis breaks rack eleven, and makes the 1 ball, then Johnny plays a great safe. Niels hits the 2 ball, but leaves a fairly easy run out, except for a 7 -8 combo in the bottom right pocket. Johnny made this combo look easy, and with only two balls left to win the match, Team USA pulled of a great win 6-5.

This meant that Team USA had won two straight matches, and surprised a lot of the pundits that had written them off as the underdogs. Just because Europe had won the last two Mosconi Cups should in no way have suggested that they were a lock for the Cup again this year.

With new boy Dennis “The Hatchetman” Hatch on board this year, and Shane Van Boening, who showed in the first match that he is no doubt one of the top two players in the tournament this year, it is clear that team USA has the grit it takes to win. I also noticed just how much Dennis has already shown how he can motivate the rest of his team, not only by his leadership skills, but by his example when at the table. Well done, Dennis.

I must admit, although it is still early in the event, I did not see the same camaraderie in the Team Europe camp as was witnessed in the USA camp. It was also very noticeable that the crowd was rooting mainly for the USA Team, and were a great asset for the home team.

 

DAY 1 MATCH 3: SHANE VAN BOENING vs MIKA IMMONEN

In this match, the player began to get loose and it was nice to see them finally go with their sticks in the first of the individual matches.

Mika soon took down the first game, but Shane soon came back in the next game with a break and run putting the score at 1-1. Mika scratched on the next break, but it was not an easy out, but Shane made it look easy, and gave and big fist pump when he sank the nine ball. Score 2-1 to Team USA.

Shane then made a great break, making five balls on the break, but was hooked on the two ball. Shane then elected to push, and Mika took it, and got a good safe, and at his next visit to the table, he ran out. Score now 2-2.

After an unlucky leave by Mika on the next break where he made four balls, but has no shot, Shane runs out after fluking the five ball whilst playing a safe. Score now 3-2 to Team USA.

The two players then jumped into some safety play in the next game, and Shane toook it down with a 3 - 9 combo, making the score 4-2 to Team USA.

Mika made the 1 ball on the break, and made a good run out, Score now 4-3 to Team USA.

After more safety play in rack eight, Shane finally gets to run out the rack from the six ball. Score now 5-3 to Team USA.

Chants of “USA, USA” have been evident after each Team USA win, instigated by Dennis Hatch, who was really getting the home crowd into the spirit of things. There was noticebly no sign of life from the European team members or their fans. This factor could really play a part in what looks like stellar play from the USA contingent. We will have to see!

Shane breaks the next rack and makes a good run out to win the match. Shane, who stood out in the first match, has been exuding confidence and is quickly becoming the stand out player for the USA team. I should add that Nick Varner (9-time world champion and the captain of Team USA this year), was visibly showing a look of pride as his army was seen to be marching on towards its goal of securing the trophy that is the MOSCONI CUP.