It’s Europe’s to Lose!

by Paul · December 9, 2009

9th December

It’s Europe’s to Lose!

Deuel and Dominguez Both Quietly Confident

COREY Deuel admits Europe are the favourites to win the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup but believes they may crack under that pressure.

Deuel returns to the American Mosconi side after not being selected last year when USA slumped to an 11-5 defeat in Malta.

On the eve of the event, many people believe this is the strongest European side ever and Deuel admits America will have to be at their best to claim victory.

“America, on paper, are the underdogs but I think our team are getting along and if we can gel together we will win,” said Deuel. It’s Europe’s cup to lose but we need to go out there and win it.

“We’ve won it in the past more times in the past but they have a good team this year. There will definitely be pressure on them for sure so how will they cope? I love playing in this and the Mosconi Cup is my favourite tournament to play in.

“I get along with all my team and I’m glad to see all the rest of the guys in the team. I respect their games and am looking forward to it.”

The American side features Deuel, Johnny Archer, Shane Van Boening, while two men – Oscar Dominguez and Dennis Hatch will be making their debuts.

Dominguez admits he is excited about being part of the action and is confident of being on the successful team.

“It’s pretty sweet to be in the Mosconi Cup team,” said Dominguez. “To represent your country is a big honour and I’m trying to make the most of it.

“We aren’t here on vacation, we’re here to work and I think we have an excellent chance of winning. On paper, Europe are the favourites but we’re not playing on paper.

“At the start of the year it was one of my goals to get into the Mosconi Cup team. I’ve only been playing pool for seven years so I’m a bit of a late starter but as I did pretty good at Valley Forge and I knew I had a chance of making the Mosconi team.

“You aren’t playing for yourselves for once and in every tournament you play, it’s all about being individual but now you’re representing your country and your team mates so everything you work hard for, they will reap the benefits as well.

“We will have no jet lag but when you’re flying across the pond then that’s tough. I think it’s a big advantage that it’s our home court. Every mistake the Europeans make you will hear it from the crowd and that makes a big difference.”

Live in its entirety on Sky Sports in the UK, the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup features two five-man teams representing Europe and the USA doing battle in a series of singles and doubles matches. Now in its 16th year, the Americans hold a 10-4 lead with one tied match in 2006.

Tickets for the Mosconi Cup are available from:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/2009-Mosconi-Cup-tickets/artist/1334375

or 1-800 745 300 or from the MGM Grand on 1-800 929 1111 or 702 891 7777.

Luke Riches, Matchroom Sport: luke.riches@matchroom.com, +44 7785 395688

www.matchroompool.com

Notes: Matchroom Sport are one of the world’s leading producers of televised sport and are responsible for over 1,100 hours of original programming across a range of nine sports. Based in the UK and chaired by charismatic founder Barry Hearn, the Mosconi Cup is one of a stable of pool events that also includes the World Cup of Pool and the World Pool Masters.

The 2009 Mosconi Cup is sponsored by PartyPoker.net, the world’s leading online casino. Tables are supplied by Brunswick Billiards, cloth by Iwan Simonis, Super Aramith balls by Saluc and the Official Cue is Predator.

10th December
US Storm to Early Lead
Only Souquet Averts WhitewashEurope 1 – 4 USA
TEAM USA enjoyed a magnificent first day at the 2009 PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup as they won four of the five matches to leave the star-studded European team reeling and needing it all to do on Friday.

The team spirit that had driven the Europeans to successive wins in ’07 and ’08 seemed to be lacking and captain Alex Lely will have a job to do to ready his troops for action tomorrow.
Only Ralf Souquet, who sneaked past Oscar Dominguez in the final game of the day, recorded a point for Europe.

Lely may take heart though, from events two years ago at the same venue when the European team trailed by the same score line after day one but went on to record a famous victory.

By contrast the American side looked in confident shape as rookie Dennis Hatch lead them out into the arena for the opening match and in a tense encounter, the USA got off to a dream start as they grabbed the opening point in the tournament’s one and only team match where all ten players take part.

They sealed the victory in an action-packed tenth rack as Souquet fouled after a tight Van Boening tight safety. Sensing victory, Deuel missed a match-winning 3-9 combination before Appleton under hit a positional shot getting to the brown 7.

Souquet missed the subsequent pot and left the ball hanging. From there it was plain sailing as Van Boening dropped the first case 9 ball of the Mosconi Cup. The scoreline of 6-4 was all the sweeter as Team USA had trailed 3-1 in the early stages.

“This isn’t like a normal tournament and I was nervous, which is something new for me,” said Hatch.

“It’s a completely different atmosphere and you’re playing for your country and your team. Hopefully the first set jitters have gone so I can play well, but it’s a dream come true to be at the Mosconi Cup.

“This win takes a lot of pressure off of us and puts a lot of pressure on the Europeans. We’re the underdogs and have nothing to lose. If we do lose, we’re expected to but we’re just playing and want to have fun and enjoy ourselves.”

Hatch’s reading of the situation proved apposite and there was more joy for the big man from Buffalo in the second match of the day as he partnered the experienced Johnny Archer to a nerve jangling 6-5 win over the European pair of Niels Feijen and Darren Appleton.

Hatch, who looked to be settling in very nicely to his first Mosconi Cup and his steadfast partner moved themselves to the hill at 5-2 and looked good for the win. Europe though dug in and took the next three racks to set up a decider.

Europe’s fight back was all in vain though, as a fine 7-8 combination from Archer put them on the way. Hatch got rid of the 8-ball and Archer took out the 9 to win the point for his team.

There was more joy for the packed house at the MGM Grand as Shane Van Boening upset World No.1 Mika Immonen to give the USA a marvellous 3-0 lead.

Coming off the back of his US Open and World 10 Ball wins and a stellar record at last year’s event, Immonen was well placed to stop the rot but ran into a confident Van Boening who barely put a foot wrong.

The Finn looked a little out of kilter as a couple of mistakes saw Van Boening cash in and take the match 6-3.

Alex Lely put out the German pairing of Souquet and Hohmann next and trailing 3-0 a win was imperative. It didn’t go that way though as rookie Oscar Dominguez partnered by the seasoned Corey Deuel, making his sixth Mosconi Cup appearance, took them to the cleaners for an excellent 6-2 win.

LA -based Dominguez had plenty of support in the crowd including his father Ernesto, himself a world-class cueist and the American pair looked all business as they won the last four racks for victory.

Dominguez, picked by Alex Lely to play the final match of the day (America’s Varner plumped for Ralf Souquet), had a great chance to complete a whitewash for his team but missed a simple 4 ball in the final rack.

The dour German completed the run out to claim his team’s first point of the Mosconi Cup and give them hope for tomorrow.
The Scores

Europe 4 – 6 USA

Feijen/ Appleton 5 – 6 Archer/Hatch

Mika Immonen 3 – 6 Shane Van Boening

Souquet/Hohmann 2 – 6 Deuel/Dominguez

Ralf Souquet 6 – 5 Oscar Dominguez