Team USA Heading to Manila
Archer and Morris Aim for US Win No.2
WITH THE PARTYPOKER.NET WORLD CUP OF POOL taking place in Manila from Tuesday to Sunday 7th to 12th September, Matchroom Sport can announce that the USA will be represented by the Nos. 1 & 2 players on the BCA Men’s Point List, Johnny Archer and Rodney Morris.
Morris has played in all four runnings of the World Cup to date including winning the tournament with Shane Van Boening in 2008 and finishing runner-up in the company of Earl Strickland to the Philippines in the event’s inaugural year, 2006.
The tournament features 32 two-player teams from around the world taking aim for a $250,000 prize fund, with the winning pair bagging $60,000 between them.
For Johnny Archer, 41, it will be his World Cup debut, and he is relishing the opportunity of playing in the event.
‘It is a great honour to represent the USA in the World Cup of Pool and I can’t wait to get over to the Philippines to carry the American flag.
‘Like any pool player, I love playing in front of the Philippine crowd. I know that they will be very supportive to Efren and Bustamante but Rodney and I will feed off of that and use it as fuel.
‘I know in order for us to win, we will most likely have to go through the Filipino team, but I think our chances of winning are great. You have to remember that 9-ball started in the United States so we are the best players and we will show that this year.’
Having won this tournament and also lost out in the final, Rodney Morris is well aware of what is required to carry off the World Cup of Pool.
‘Playing alongside Johnny Archer and having him as a partner will bring a sense of calm as I know that I have a veteran following my every shot. He’s a great player and we’re good friends too, so it makes it easy.
‘We’ve played as partners in the Mosconi Cup and that helps because we know a little bit of what we’re thinking already. There’s no more thrill than playing for your country; it’s a different feeling than just playing to win a tournament.’
Like Archer, Morris can’t get enough of that unique buzz that pool generates in Manila, ‘Playing in the Philippines is awesome because there are so many people and the atmosphere is electric.
‘We really have to see the draw, but our main rivals would have to be Efren and Bustamante just because they will have so much of the crowd behind them. They have won this event twice, so I would think they are more comfortable.’
The whole tournament will be broadcast by Solar Sports live across the Philippines with the live feed of the tournament available internationally. In addition Matchroom Sport will be producing a 31 x one hour highlights package of the event.
With 64 players in attendance, some of the biggest names in world pool will be competing including Reyes, Bustamante, Orcollo, Gomez, Souquet, Ortmann, Peach, Boyes, Immonen, Ouschan, Drago, Feijen, Van den Berg and many more.
For Archer, though, the only player he will be thinking of is Morris; ‘Rodney and my games are a perfect complement to each other. He has a real fast paced game and I really take my time.
‘We both have easy going attitudes that will help each other when the pressure really gets on. We will draw off of past experiences from other team events and we are both over 40 so we will have experience on our side.
‘We’re both very excited about this and I know that we are on top form right now so we will compete very well if we get a few shots after the break.
‘We need all the support we can get so if everybody gets behind us and helps push us over the finish line then we WILL bring the trophy back to the United States,’ added a confident Archer.
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 sports. Based in the UK and chaired by charismatic founder Barry Hearn, the World Cup of Pool is one of a stable of pool events that include the Mosconi Cup and the World Pool Masters.
The 2010 World Cup of Pool is sponsored by PartyPoker.net, the world’s leading online poker room. Tables are supplied by Brunswick Billiards, cloth by Iwan Simonis, Super Aramith balls by Saluc and the Official Cue is Predator.
