Team Europe Regroups to Stay Alive at the Mosconi Cup on Day 3

MOSCONI CUP SATURDAY MATCH BREAKDOWN

By NYC Grind Contributor, Geoff Conway

First macth up on Saturday was between Shane Van Boening and Oscar Dominguez vs. Ralf Souquet (GER) and Mika Immonen (FIN), this match was very important for the Euro side, as they needed every match that they could muster, as they trailed the USA Team 7 matches to 2.

The atmosphere was so intense in the arena that you cou;ld cut it with a knife. The USA crowd were wondering if the USA Team could keep their impressive lead of five matches, with the old catch phrase of “It ain’t over till its over” ringing in their ears. In contrast, the European fans, although not great in number, were certainly making themselves heard.

Well, the USA pairing goit of to a great start, with Shane breaking the first game and the pair running out the rack to go ahead 1-0.

Mika broke the seciond game and almost made the 9 ball on the break. Ralf and Mika soon made short work of this rack putting the score at 1-1.

In the third rack Oscar broke and they ran out the rack to put the score at 2-1 to the USA Team. I would point out that Shane came with two great shots in the middle of the rack to keep them on the table. He is such a clutch player and an asset to have as your partner.

Ralf breaks the fourth rack, and they proceed to run the table to the 4 ball, when several safety shots were played. Shane while attempting a safety of the four ball, which was on the top rail, hit the tit of the side pocket while trying run the cue ball down town to the dottom rail. This left the cue ball in the middle of the table for an easy run out for Team Europe. Score 2-2.

Shane broke the fifth rack but made an illegal break (three balls did not pass the head string. Ralf plays a safe, but Oscar jumps the ball and gets a lucky safe. Mika kicks and gets a safe on the 3 ball.Shane misses and lets in the Euro side to run out the rack. Score 2-3 to Team Europe.

Mika breaks rack six and makes the 2 ball. Ralf plays safe on the 1 ball, Oscar plays a safe on Mika, who tries to masse to hit the 1 ball and misses. USA starts to run out and Shane surprisingly misses the five ball, and the Euro guys run out. Score 2-4 to Team Euro.

Oscar breaks rack seven, and makes the 2 and 7 ball on the break, and Shane almost pulls of his safe attempt, but leaves a tough forty five degree cut down the side rail for Ralf. Ralf stepped up to the plate and hit the shot at perfect speed and got perfect on the next shot. Thats why he is a World Champion. The Euro team run out, and now the score stands at 2-5 to Team Europe.

Ralf breaks rack eight, and makes the 1 and 7 ball on the break, they proceed to run out the road map in front of them, but Mika runs a little out of position on the five ball, that Ralf has to make. It is clear that Ralf wants to go all the way around the table to get position on the six the is on the bottom rail close to the five. But once again to much talking takes place and Mika convinces him to put a load of reverse on the shot to hold the ball at that end of the table. Well guess what! Ralf misses the shot and Team USA grab a gift from the talkative Euro pairing. Score now 3-5 to Team Europe.

Shane breaks rack nine, and makes the 1 ball. Oscar has to make a jump on the 2 ball, but leaves Shane a hard shot, so he tries a safe, but leaves Ralf a shot, which he makes. Then surprisingly Mika misses the 7 ball,leaving Oscar a tough shot on the 7 ball, which he makes. Shane also has to make a clutch shot on the 8 ball and Oscar makes the 9 to make the score line close at 4-5 to Team Europe.

Mika makes a big break in the tenth rack, and makes four balls, the 1, 2, 4 and 7, Ralf the makes a hard cut on the 3 ball, leaving Mika an equally hard cut on the 5 ball. Ralf makes it and gets perfect on the 6 ball. They run out withe Mika making the 9 ball. Final Score 4-6 to Team Europe.

This result is exactly what the organisers were looking for. They are hoping for a Europe revival to make the Sunday play interesting for both the viewers and their bank account. I would add that the European fan base certainly made themselves heard when Mika dropped the 9 ball.

The next match up was the dynamic Dennis Hatch who has quickly established himself as a fan favorite, and is refered to as the man who “Carries his heart on his sleeve” by the announcer, against Niels Feijen form Holland, Niels has the nickname the “The Terminator” for a good reason.

This match was a classic duel between two tough competitors, and would to and fro before a winner surfaced.

Dennis got off to a great start in game one, breaking and running out to show Niels his stuff at the outset. Dennis just managed to stop himself and recompose his shot routine when taking the 7 ball, when somebody’s phone ringer went off. I would not have liked to be the guy who had to take that glare from the Hatchetman. Score 1-0 to Team USA.

Niels makes three balls on the break, the 1, 7, and 8. Niels plays safe on the 2 ball, and seven safety plays take place before Dennis attempts a safe on the two that leaves a long shot for Niels. Niels elects to play another safe which Dennis manages to hit, but allows Niels to run out. Score now 1-1. A lot of patience was seen in this game.

Dennis breaks rack three, then tries a kick on the 2 ball, but leaves a run out for Niels. Score now 1-2 to Team Europe.

Rack four sees Niels breaks and run the 2 and 3 balls, but misses the four trying to split up the 5/7 cluster on the side rail. Dennis makes the 4 and makes the 5 ball in the side pocket and in doing so tries to go round the table three rails to get on the six which on the top rail. Unfortunately he scratches in the top corner pocket. Niels runs out and says thank you! Score now 1-3 to Team Europe.

Dennis breaks in rack five, and makes the 1 and the 4 ball, then makes the 2 ball gets a little out of line on the 5 ball, and plays a great safe behind the 9 ball. Niels cannot hit the 5, and gives Dennis ball in hand, and he runs out the rack. Score now getting back in the USA’s favor at 2-3 to Team Europe.

Niels breaks and runs out rack six. Score now 2-4 to Team Europe. The Euro fans are going bonkers, and think that their man is heading towards another Euro win. They obviously are underestimating Mr. Hatch’s heart and determination.

Dennis breaks rack seven, making the 1 and 6 balls on the break. He quickly cuts in a tough cut on the 2 ball, and alnost scratches in the top pocket. Then runs out. Score line now at 3-4 to Team Europe.

Niels makes two balls on the break (1 and 6) but scratches, Dennis jumps up and runs out. Score now 4-4.

Dennis breaks rack nine and makes the 1 ball. Dennis plays safe on the 2 ball, but leaves an edge showing. Niels makes a 90º cut on the 2 ball in the corner pocket, but gets out of line on the 4 ball. Niels tries a cross bank and misses. Dennis makes the four ball and makes a hard shot on the 5 ball down the side rail, then runs out. Score now very much in the USA wheel house. Score now 5-4 to Tean USA.

Niels makes a great break on what was to be the last rack, making three balls on the break (1, 2 and 8). Runs the 3 and 4 balls, but then astonishingly misses the 5 ball which was a relatively easy shot. I would add that he almost made the ball in the opposite pocket. Dennis ran out to the ovation of the USA fans. Score 6-4 to Team USA. This was quite some come back and clearly shows the determination and heart that this big man has.

Dennis has clearly made himself known to many new fans across the world from his exposure in the Mosconi Cup this week. I feel that he has become a fan favorite, and I am sure that we will see him again next year in this event.

Next up on the big stage was Johnny Archer and Corey Deuel against World Champions Thorsten Hohmann (GER) and Darren Appleton (UK). This one on paper looked as though the Euro Team might be the favorites in this match up. Johnny wins the lag, stopping the ball on the rail. He then breaks and makes the 2 ball, and they proceed to run out the rack. They both played a couple of great shots during the rack. Good out! Score 1-0 to Team USA.

Thorsten broke rack two and made the 1 and 3 ball on the break. This was a scrappy rack with a lot of safety and misses. This rack finally went in favor of the Euro Team. Score 1-1.

Corey who it must be said was not playing his best pool, and was seen to be missing quite a few shots, seemed to be on a more steady keel under the guidance of Johnny in this match. Corey broke rack three, making the 1 and 4 ball, Johnny played a beautiful bank on the 2 ball so as to get perfect on the 3 ball. Corey played a great shot on the 3 ball bumping into the 7 and 5 balls that were locked on the side rail. Johnny makes the 5 ball, and Corey leaves Johnny out of line on the 7 ball. Johnny cuts the 7 in and they’re off to the races. Score now 2-1 to Team USA.

Darren broke rack four but did not get two balls past the head string. The ruling is that three balls must go past the head string, but as he made a ball then only two balls need go past the head string, if you get my drift.

The incoming player does not get ball in hand, but gets to choose if he wants to shoot or give the table back to his opponent. In this case Team USA decided to run out the table. Both players executed some great shots in this rack, with Corey making the 9 ball. Score now 3-1 to Team USA.

Johnny broke and some safety ensued, leading to Thorsten having to jump and he scratches. USA begin a run out until Corey missed the 8 ball, giving the game to the Euro side. Score now 3-2 to Team USA. Say thank you!

Thorsten came up dry in rack six. Johnny plays safe on the 1 ball. Darren tries to play a safe but leaves a shot for Corey. Corey manages to make the 1 ball, and get out of the cluster of balls that were around it, and they run out easily. Score now 4-2 to Team USA.

Corey breaks rack seven, makes 8 ball, plays Thorsten safe. several more safes ensue, until Corey decides to make a jump. Strangely, he has to use Johnny’s jump stick. Well, he was not successful and jumped the ball right of the table. He then looked at the stick and shrugged his shoulders. Team Euro run out. Score now 4-3.

Borrowing somebody elses jump stick is not too smart in the middle of one of the most important events of the year. Bad, bad boy!

Darren broke rack eight and makes one ball. Immediately it is obvious that the 5/9 that are sitting on the side rail have the 9 ball dead in the bottom corner. Hence Thorsten tries to long bank the two ball of the top rail to hit the 5 ball and make the 9 ball. Well he misses the combo by three inches and makes the 2 ball straight in the bottom pocket.

Darren now very cleverly sends the three ball up town and locks the cue ball behind the 9 ball, without disturbing the alignment of the combo.  USA miss the 3 ball, giving ball in hand to Thorsten, who hits the three into the 5/9 and makes the 9.  Score now 4-4. Say thank you!

Johnny breaks makes a ball, and Team USA run out. Score now 5-4 to Team USA.

Thorsten broke rack ten making the 7 ball, they then run out the rack. Score 5-5. The Euro fans are going crazy at this point.

Corey breaks the final rack and comes up dry. Darren plays a safe, but leaves Johnny a piece of the 1 ball. Johnny cuts the 1 ball in and they proceed to run out for the win. The crowd goes crazy as this was a big game for the USA Team, who did not want to see their lead from Friday diminish.

The next match up was the pairing of Dennis Hatch and Corey Deuel against Niels Feijen (NED) and Thorsten Hohmann (GER).

This match up got a huge ovation from the fans, and Dennis was a contributor to the bedlum as he stirred up the fervor of the crowd.

This match turned into a very lop sided affair, with Team USA only managing to put one bead on the wire throughout the course of the match.  They just could not get into the match, and when they had their chances they could not deliver. I must say that the Euro side played well together, and were breaking really good. The final score was 6-1 to Team Europe.

The next match up was the young gun on the USA Team Oscar Dominguez against Mika Immonen (FIN) Oscar got of to a good start winning the first game, but Mika quickly came with a break and run out in the second game. Score 1-1.

Oscar then takes rack three, with an 8/9 combo. Score 2-1 to Team USA.Oscar comes up dry on rack four, Mika plays safe, Oscar kicks but leaves 1 ball for Mika to run out the rack. Score 2-2.

Mika breaks and runs to the 6 ball but gets locked on the 7 ball. Tries a safe, but leaves Oscar an opportunity to play a perfect safe with the object ball and the cue balls at the opposite ends of the table with three balls in line between them. Oscar runs out. Score at 3-2 to Team USA.

Oscar loses the cue ball off the table. Mika with ball in hand runs out the table. Score 3-3.

Mika breaks rack seven, then plays safe. Oscar tries to hit but scratches. Mika runs out. Score 3-4 to Team Europe.

Oscar comes up dry on the break, so Mika starts to run out but misses the 2 ball. Oscar then looks to run out the rack, but misses a straight 8 ball. Mika wins the game. Score 3-5 to Team Europe.

Mika breaks rack nine, makes three balls, the 1, 5, and 7, but misses the 2 ball. Oscar runs out. Score 4-5 to Team Europe.

Oscar comes up dry on the break, and Mika runs out toi the joy of the European fans. The final score was 4-6 to Team Europe.

Oscar made a few too many mistakes in this match, and Mika played his best match this week.

The final match count at the end of the third day’s play is 9 matches to the USA and 5 matches to Europe. This sadly means that Team Europe only have to lose two matches tomorrow to give back the trophy to the USA Team  As a matter of interest, Dennis Hatch is player number two on Sunday’s roster, which means that if the USA Team win their first match tomorrow then Dennis will be playing the final match if he wins.

I had dinner with Dennis last night and he says there is no doubt in his mind that he will win on Sunday, and that he will play the winning match. How’s that for confidence.

Please stay tuned for more results tomorrow, and please do not forget to let us know your comments about our coverage, and anything else that takes your fancy.

Geoff Conway - Pool Junkie