maybe
and yet the conditions are equal to all and still the Americans haven't been doing so good in that event for years, nor in other non exhibition pro events
Lukas Verner wins WNT Ranking Event
- Thread starter Kris_b1104
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and yet the conditions are equal to all and still the Americans haven't been doing so good in that event for years, nor in other non exhibition pro events
vintagecollectibles831
Well-known member
For long taper, I heard that the Becue Engage 12.3mm has like an 18" extended Pro Taper. The Jacoby shafts also have a very long extended Pro Taper. Cuetec Cynergy too. I really want to try out the Becue Engage 12.3mm though.
vintagecollectibles831
Well-known member
Yeah, Europe is just so freaking solid. They probably have 20 players to choose from, that they could put together a super strong team from. Not sure how many Americans are really on that level. And, I really do not see Fedor as an American. I feel that only born and bread Americans should be on the US team. Fedor has only been here for a few years.
The Mosconi isn't an exhibition.
Listen to Shane's comments here:
Mosconi is the toughest competition in pool.
I don't really want a long taper, I like it somewhere in the middle towards conical.
Justin Hall and Donny Mills also forfeited/didn't show up.
There have been many Team USA athletes in various different sports that were born outside the US. In the 2016 Olympics, 47 Team USA competitors were foreign-born. There's many other examples like basketball and soccer.
Even in the Ryder Cup, which Mosconi copies, they changed the rule in 2002 so that any US-born or naturalized American citizen can represent Team USA.
Your line of thinking is ignorant. Thorsten Hohmann has lived in the US for many years and is a citizen who is trying to earn points to make it on Team USA.
If you're relying on born and bread Americans to win the MC, then that's a pipe dream because it will never happen. We only have 1 elite player that fits that category.
But like you said, you don't really follow pro pool so I don't expect you to know these things.
vintagecollectibles831
Well-known member
What I do know is that Pool in America is pretty small compared to all of those Olympic sports.
Fedor, for example, got a spot on the team that he should not even have had a right to get, leaving other real American top players to the sidelines. He was, and still is not an American. That is a fact.
With your way of thinking, the US Mosconi cup team could someday be filled with Euro players, for example, who moved to the US. Would seem pretty pointless to even have an exhibition, in that case.
Jayson Shaw has been in the US for a very long time too. So has Darren Appleton for example. Maybe you would like the US team filled up with Euro born players, if it would give the US the best chance to win.
Seems like having the best chance of winning is all that matters. Not doing what is right.
Again, Fedor is not even an American yet.
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vintagecollectibles831
Well-known member
It is an Exhibition. That is a fact. In a Competition, last place would not get a medal and a prize, lol. 10-15 k for last place and a medal, lol.
Glad you don't make the rules.
Fedor will never be an American in your eyes, since he wasn't born here, even if he did become a US citizen.
While I agree about Fedor, it’s from a bit different reasons.
America is an immigrant nation, it was built by immigrants and many great Americans were not born in the USA.
The thing with Fedor is that most of his pool was developed in Russia, he represented Europe at the Mosconi before so switching sides feels like cheating. But then he picked the losing side so maybe we let him slide
LOL.
Bergman played in one WNT event this year. He failed to get out of the first round of the PLP. He then skipped the European Open, the first WNT major of 2026. Right now, the case for his inclusion on Team USA is near zero.
Lukas, on the other hand, just won a WNT ranking event, beating Naoyuki Oi, whose Fargo of 828 makes him the 18th ranked player in the world, in the race to 13 final. That's twenty times harder than winning an 8ball race to eight against Filler.
You think who plays in the non-WNT events should have any bearing on Mosconi worthiness? I don't. Mosconi spots are based on performance in WNT play. It has always been that way. FYI, Wojciech Szewczyk was not on Team Europe in the year that he won the World 10ball title. Matchroom could care less who is doing what in disciplines other than 9ball, and that is just as it should be. The Mosconi Cup, to be fair, is the 9ball post season.
Only those who show strong form at 9ball deserve any Mosconi consideration. In 2025, Lukas has done so, but Bergman has not. That, however, is likely to change down the road. Wishing both of them the best of luck.
Yes, I stand corrected. My comment applies only to the years in which there actually were WNT Mosconi Cup rankings, meaning since 2022.
vintagecollectibles831
Well-known member
The thing is, that I just feel bad for the other up and coming players who would have probably loved a spot on the team. Fedor did not need a spot on the team. He could have just played on the Europe team again, if they would choose him again. I just feel that they should have at least waited until Fedor is a US Citizen, before allowing him on the American team. In the mean time, allow some of the other up and coming players to have a spot on the team. Those are just my personal thoughts though. Nobody has to agree with me on my opinions. I really do not care.
vintagecollectibles831
Well-known member
Is it possible that some of the best players in the US do not have the money or backing to play in all of the WNT events? Bergman for example. He does not have a big sponsor, like Cuetec, who might pay for his travel expenses. I might be wrong though. I do not know. He might still not like to travel much though, and that might be the case with Bergman. He is still one of the best US players though, right? And, why does Fedor have the right to play on the US Mosconi Cup team?
vintagecollectibles831
Well-known member
I will probably look like an idiot for asking, but I wonder why Matchroom only looks at WNT events. I wonder how many WNT events are in the US, annually. Players must need a lot of travel expenses, if they have to fly all over the world to play in WNT events, if many are international. Sorry for the dumb questions. Thanks.
vintagecollectibles831
Well-known member
Bergman may not even care about getting on the Mosconi Cup. I would love to see him get a Predator or Cuetec sponsorship though. Any that might pay his travel expenses, if he might need them paid. He is one of our best, so he should have a top sponsor, I think.
Mosconi should not be for up and coming, it should be the best vs the best.
“The best” is based on ranking but MR always saved a wildcard spot for crowd pleasers and players that makes it interesting like they used to do with Strickland.
I don’t think that Lukas is that exiting to watch that he is worth a wildcard slot.