Same old story. The 5th place Euro has more winnings than the first place American.
2025 Mosconi rosters - Euro changes a coming
- Thread starter jbart65
- Start date
Not sure it’s the same “old” story. SVB led that list for many years.
It’s more like the new story 
As a strong American pool fan, I am losing enthusiasm for Mosconi Cup's Team USA. The European pros worthy of a Mosconi Cup or any world competition, for that matter, consists of 20 to 30 world beaters, maybe even more.
I can count on one hand the Americans capable of being labeled a "world beater." As a virtual railbird, I just feel like the Americans don't seem to take the prep work beforehand as serious as I would like to see. Maybe I am missing what is going on behind the scenes.
I don't know that having a member of the team being a captain is the right way to go, either. When Johan Ruijsink was Team USA captain, he instilled something in Team USA, something that is missing today, and their performance that year told the story. This is what a team captain is supposed to do. Team USA has a great spirit, but they need more preparation and guidance by a professional.
Once again, I'll sing the same old song. The BCA organization, the industry-member group that is supposed to be the governing body of professional pool in North America, should also focus more on American professional pool. If they are not going to do so and would rather concentrate on sales, the name of the organizaiton should be called Billiard Industry Members of North America, BIMNA.
The lack of the BCA's involvement and the dedication of American pro-caliber players, the few that we have, to increase their skill sets is why, in my opinion, Team USA is not capable of winning a future Mosconi Cup. I'll still root for the home team, but it's not fun anymore for me as an American pool fan. It's like watching the Americans step out into a Greek coloseum and having them slaughtered by Europeans for entertainment purposes.
All that said, USA can give Europe the orange crush–I mean the purple crush when it comes to gambling. That's where USA shines the brightest, again, in my opinion.
I can count on one hand the Americans capable of being labeled a "world beater." As a virtual railbird, I just feel like the Americans don't seem to take the prep work beforehand as serious as I would like to see. Maybe I am missing what is going on behind the scenes.
I don't know that having a member of the team being a captain is the right way to go, either. When Johan Ruijsink was Team USA captain, he instilled something in Team USA, something that is missing today, and their performance that year told the story. This is what a team captain is supposed to do. Team USA has a great spirit, but they need more preparation and guidance by a professional.
Once again, I'll sing the same old song. The BCA organization, the industry-member group that is supposed to be the governing body of professional pool in North America, should also focus more on American professional pool. If they are not going to do so and would rather concentrate on sales, the name of the organizaiton should be called Billiard Industry Members of North America, BIMNA.
The lack of the BCA's involvement and the dedication of American pro-caliber players, the few that we have, to increase their skill sets is why, in my opinion, Team USA is not capable of winning a future Mosconi Cup. I'll still root for the home team, but it's not fun anymore for me as an American pool fan. It's like watching the Americans step out into a Greek coloseum and having them slaughtered by Europeans for entertainment purposes.
All that said, USA can give Europe the orange crush–I mean the purple crush when it comes to gambling. That's where USA shines the brightest, again, in my opinion.
what are the potential captain qualities of shane? i doubt they would be bigger than his player qualities, which are in great demand
and 4 other players, like who? hunter lombardo? tyler was the best player last year
Dude stop lol I love earl. I just watched him play at the expo. Age is winning like it does with all of us. He can’t play against that level of player anymore and watching him it’s obvious. It’s fun to see him at the expo. Fun to watch him interact with fans and if he was doing an exhibition at my local pool hall I’d be there but his days of winning big tournaments and beating top players like what are in the mosconi cup sadly are over.
Last edited:
As a strong American pool fan, I am losing enthusiasm for Mosconi Cup's Team USA. The European pros worthy of a Mosconi Cup or any world competition, for that matter, consists of 20 to 30 world beaters, maybe even more.
I can count on one hand the Americans capable of being labeled a "world beater." As a virtual railbird, I just feel like the Americans don't seem to take the prep work beforehand as serious as I would like to see. Maybe I am missing what is going on behind the scenes.
I don't know that having a member of the team being a captain is the right way to go, either. When Johan Ruijsink was Team USA captain, he instilled something in Team USA, something that is missing today, and their performance that year told the story. This is what a team captain is supposed to do. Team USA has a great spirit, but they need more preparation and guidance by a professional.
Once again, I'll sing the same old song. The BCA organization, the industry-member group that is supposed to be the governing body of professional pool in North America, should also focus more on American professional pool. If they are not going to do so and would rather concentrate on sales, the name of the organizaiton should be called Billiard Industry Members of North America, BIMNA.
The lack of the BCA's involvement and the dedication of American pro-caliber players, the few that we have, to increase their skill sets is why, in my opinion, Team USA is not capable of winning a future Mosconi Cup. I'll still root for the home team, but it's not fun anymore for me as an American pool fan. It's like watching the Americans step out into a Greek coloseum and having them slaughtered by Europeans for entertainment purposes.
All that said, USA can give Europe the orange crush–I mean the purple crush when it comes to gambling. That's where USA shines the brightest, again, in my opinion.
Your sagging energy to root for the Americans is likely exactly how the Europeans would have felt for the first many years of the Cup. (It’s not fun).
* To quote Churchill kinda, “Nevah, nevah, nevah, nevah yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy!”.
* Or the ‘62 Mets at 40-120, ‘69 Mets world Champions
* 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Gold
* And remember David.
Will Prout
Last edited:
I agree, they would... That's the unfortunate reality when a player such as Filler wants two slices of cake. MR would be better served with a hardline for their contracted players to prevent them from playing in other organization's events. That would prevent the scenario you're describing. They (MR) opted to not to force mandates. In this case they were awarded by one of the very best not support them. Clearly a case of biting the hand that feeds you. MR saw fit not to provide Mr. Filler desert. Good on them....
No we don't... The facts don't support your narrative so I'm not surprised at this conclusion.
word...
Love the event no matter what, but Ruijsink gave an interview with Doggin It last fall that went into this. Interestingly, as you might be aware, he was asked by Skyler to advise the team ahead of the 2024 Mosconi. But MR evidently said Team USA could not use a coach since it was supposed to be a player-coached event.
Should be noted that Filler played none of them and they instead fell victim to weaker talent.
The event you noted had 13 of the 59 pros currently rated over 800 (25%). Souquet at 795 is not one of them, but I like the honourable mention. Of those 13, only 7 are in the top 25. Honestly, it's far better than I recall. As I was searching through the world's top list, I realized how deep the talent is getting. That said, I'm tossing out Ameer Ali's 850 w/ ~300 racks in the system. You need to get down passed ~15th (Albin) before you start to give a strong edge to Filler to dominate the match.
Conveniently I would consider "top pros" to be above that 15th spot. That leaves Biado, Chang and finally Albin. Although I'll go to my grave as a die hard fan. I don't consider Pagulayan a top pro anymore. Even though he's 25th currently, and rated higher than the bulk of pros you noted.
All of this is subjective, so I'm not going to argue it. If you look at the talent that could potentially out play Filler. It amounts to 3 of 14. Starting at Albin and going up from there. Glad I used the word "nearly"...lol
I feel the same way as you, Jen. Nowadays, I'm going to find the Reyes Cup far more interesting and my only watch.As a strong American pool fan, I am losing enthusiasm for Mosconi Cup's Team USA. The European pros worthy of a Mosconi Cup or any world competition, for that matter, consists of 20 to 30 world beaters, maybe even more.
Team USA is not capable of winning a future Mosconi Cup. I'll still root for the home team, but it's not fun anymore for me as an American pool fan. It's like watching the Americans step out into a Greek coloseum and having them slaughtered by Europeans for entertainment purposes.
UK Open field just announced. No Fedor Gorst, who must still be having some health issues.
And surprise surprise, no SVB. Or Oscar Dominguez. Seems he no longer has an interest in trying for the Mosconi after last year.
American contingent consists of Sky, Tyler, Thorpe, Woolford, Fracasso-Verner, Sossei, Lombardo, Nathan Childress, Henderson, Linares. Didn't recognize any other names.
Other notables missing: Francisco Sanchez Ruiz. No health issues known.
Pinoys include Chua, Biado, Raga, Manas, Roda, Regalario, Gonzales, Baoanan, Vergara.
And surprise surprise, no SVB. Or Oscar Dominguez. Seems he no longer has an interest in trying for the Mosconi after last year.
American contingent consists of Sky, Tyler, Thorpe, Woolford, Fracasso-Verner, Sossei, Lombardo, Nathan Childress, Henderson, Linares. Didn't recognize any other names.
Other notables missing: Francisco Sanchez Ruiz. No health issues known.
Pinoys include Chua, Biado, Raga, Manas, Roda, Regalario, Gonzales, Baoanan, Vergara.
too bad about fedor. back injuries can end careers.
that's a very strong filipino contingent. four of them are serious title contenders. maybe five if you count young manas.
Indeed. However, it might not be the case here. At least not entirely.
Gorst is going to Indonesia next week for a bunch of events and he has scheduled a long challenge match with Tkon Nguyen in Danang from April 29 to May 2. Tkon is not going to the UK, either. The UK Open runs from May 6-10.
I'm guessing it will be a very lucrative trip for Gorst, far more than winning the UK Open. He still has a big lead in WNT rankings and is also No. 1 on the U.S. Mosconi leaderboard. So he can afford to skip a big MR major and get some more rest for his back after his Asian trip.
Oscar has been the biggest casualty of Mosconi bs for years. I don't blame him. I understand that landing in the bottom half of points standings opens you up to not being selected, but imo the man clearly put the time in and had the results. Being passed over was a bit of a slap in the face. That might be overstating it.
While I don't have side in the event. I would really love the USA to muster a strong showing. I don't enjoy the white washing.
Definition of insanity. Shane doesn't play well in the even, fine give him something else to do. The combination of players we've sent including Tyler don't have a chance. Try something else
I thought Lukas would surpass Tyler last year. If he doesn't this year, he never will.
USA's world class players since the Mosconi Cup began have been in reverse chronological order:
Shane
Archer
Strickland
Sigel/Varner (about same age)
5 players. I may have missed a couple. The time span between Shane and Archer was large. Even larger, no one has come up after Shane, which is now 18 years later! (2007, his breakout year).
Shane
Archer
Strickland
Sigel/Varner (about same age)
5 players. I may have missed a couple. The time span between Shane and Archer was large. Even larger, no one has come up after Shane, which is now 18 years later! (2007, his breakout year).