2016 Mosconi Cup

 

Albin back in the reckoning

ALBIN OUSCHAN saw his 2016 Mosconi Cup chances increase hugely when he was crowned WPA World 9 Ball champion in Qatar earlier this month. The title was a vindication of the young Austrian’s talent and resolve, as he followed up his silver medal in 2015 with gold. The win puts Ouschan on top of the European World points list after just one event.

There are three more tournaments to go – China Open, US Open and the Kuwait Open – and Ouschan has got off to the best possible start in that ranking and will be looking to make the team and emulate his Mosconi Cup showing last year when he bagged the winning 9 ball.

Jayson Shaw maintained his top spot in both the Combined list with a quarter-final finish in Qatar, while Mark Gray is well placed astride the European ranking. Multiple Mosconi Cop MVP winner Niels Feijen is poised to strike in third and second place respectively, while German legend Ralf Souquet is in contention and looking to make his record-equalling 17^th appearance in the Cup.

There are five more events remaining for players to win points, starting with the China Open which commences on August 21^st.

There are three separate ranking lists with the top player in each ranking gaining an automatic spot on Team Europe for the 23^rd annual Mosconi Cup which takes place at the Alexandra Palace, London from 6^th to 9^th December.

The first ranking will comprise the nine European events – ‘European Ranking’; the second will be the four WPA international events – ‘World Ranking’; the third will be made up of all 13 events – ‘Combined Ranking’.

Combined Rankings

 1 Jayson Shaw                         172

2 Mark Gray                                    152

3 Niels Feijen                                   135

4 Ralf Souquet                                128

5 Nikos Ekonomopoulos              124

6 Albin Ouschan                             118

7 Mario He                                       92

8 Imran Majid                                 89

9 Mika Immonen                            80

10 Joshua Filler                               78

European Rankings

 1 Mark Gray                               152

2 Niels Feijen                                   135

3 Jayson Shaw                                132

4 Ralf Souquet                                115

5 Nikos Ekonomopoulos              111

6 Imran Majid                                 89

7 Mika Immonen                            80

8 Joshua Filler                                 78

9 David Alcaide                               77

10 Wojciech Szewczyk                 69

 

World Rankings

 1 Albin Ouschan                     80

2 Denis Grabe                                 40

3 Alexander Kazakis                      40

4 Jayson Shaw                                40

5 Mario He                                       27

6 Artem Koshovoj                          27

7 Daryl Peach                                  27

8 Five players tied 8^th on 13 pts

 

For full rankings go to www.matchroompool.com/mosconi-cup

Tickets for the Mosconi Cup are available from www.matchroompool.com or for packages from the USA contact diane@thecruiseplanner.com

2016 MOSCONI CUP is sponsored by Rasson Billiards who supply the Official Table. The cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis and the Official Balls are Super Aramith by Saluc. Predator is the Official Cue of the event and Ultimate Team Gear provide all Mosconi Cup apparel.

Luke Riches, Matchroom Sport: luke.riches@matchroom.com 

Notes: MATCHROOM SPORT is one of the world’s leading producers of televised sport and is responsible for over 1,000 hours of original programming across a range of sports. Based in the UK and chaired by charismatic founder Barry Hearn, they operate three pool events; the Mosconi Cup, the World Cup of Pool and the World Pool Masters. In addition, the company produce a multitude of events in darts, snooker, tenpin, golf, fishing, ping pong, poker and boxing.