Several comments about FSR being in top form again. IMO, it took him this long to get used to his new cue once he dumped Predator, who he was with his entire career, and went to Cuetec. He switched in Dec 2023.
2026 Mosconi Cup Team USA
- Thread starter JAM
- Start date
The only ones, subject to check, that have been picked are Francisco Sánchez Ruiz, Joshua Filler, and Aleksa Pecelj. Two wildcard slots remain pending Niels Feijen's (non-playing captain) selection.
uk_9_ball_convert
Well-known member
The only reveals for Europe I've seen on Matchrooms facebook are for Filler (lots of people were commenting the pics of him must have been taken a while back as apparently he's shaved his head for a hair transplant) and Pecelj, but think they were automatic picks and not wildcards.
I did see a post about the Mosconi on facebook and someone commented will Jayson be there and I noticed somebody who I know is friends with Jayson's dad replied yes. So I'm presuming Jayson Shaw is one of the wildcards though it hasn't been announced officially.
Watch people complain about Jayson getting picked 
The possible reemergence of FSR is one of the most exciting stories in pool. FSR was having a lousy year through July in rotation pool and then something clicked. I remember watching him at the WNT Florida Open in early August, where he managed a fifth-place finish. It was clear that he had found something and, just a few weeks later, he would win the US Open 9ball in Texas. He then found his top form again at the Bali 10ball with a bronze and shortly thereafter earned the nod as Reyes Cup MVP. Yes, he's starting to look like the FSR of 2022, but two months of elite play is not 100% conclusive regarding where his game is.
If FSR can bring this kind of pool to his 2027 campaign, it will make for a very exciting year in pool. Wishing him well.
I'd be very happy for Jayson, the best member of Team Europe of this generation. Yes, a case can be made that his 2026 campaign was unremarkable, so some might complain, but it would be a very reasonable choice.Watch people complain about Jayson getting picked
As a Team USA fan, the potential wild card choice that I would fear the most would be Alcaide, who has been playing really well, including bronze at the US Open 9ball, and seems to always play well at the Mosconi.
post the shaved head picture for us that don't have facebook. sounds like a source for amusement
uk_9_ball_convert
Well-known member
funny, but less so than i was expecting. the whole team should shave in solidarity
Yes I thought that as well. Good point. Same with Filler, he went through a little blip while changing from wood to carbon
Let’s hope Filler takes a while getting used to his new hair when he plays in the Mosconi!
With the biblical figure Samson, cutting his hair made him weaker, so the jury's out, LOL.
Wild cards aren't necessarily meant for players who had a great year and were just on the cusp of getting an automatic bid. If I were captain, I would want to be able to pick as a wild card the players who would give me the best chance to win.
Based on past performance and leadership, Shaw should be a shoo-in. He gives Team Europe a better chance to win. He also enlivens the event.
His selection is what a wild card is designed for. Impossible to believe Feijen wouldn't select Shaw if the choice was entirely up to Niels.
That said, I think a player who had a great year and just missed out on an automatic bid should merit serious consideration, even if he doesn't give his team the best chance to win.
Players should have reason to think a great season puts them in consideration. They're likely to compete in more WNT events if that's the case.
By the standard I list above, Oliver Szolnoki warrants serious consideration. He racked up almost 59,000 points. He was nearly 12,000 points ahead of the next highest-ranked player, Moritz Neuhausen. He was very consistent the whole year.
He also compiled 13,000 more points than Alcaide and 27,000 more points than Shaw. If Shaw is going to get a wild card with so many fewer points, the other one should really go to Szolnoki. It would send a bad message to other players if both wild cards were selected among those with many fewer points.
Were I to pick a player who I thought would give me the best chance to win, I would go with Neuhausen over Alcaide. He is a better player and was terrific in the Mosconi last year.
Alcaide, on the other hand, I do not fear. He is very beatable to me, and he's looked as much in recent Mosconis.
Alcaide's biggest plus is that he is very consistent and reliable -- something that can't be said for Team USA players. His consistency alone makes Alcaide dangerous in the Mosconi. He also is a calming influence on FSR.
Coos Cues
Coos Cues
Every sporting event that keeps score is going to have a winner and a loser no matter what the level of the competitors is. If you have to be the winner to be paid it's just too risky to commit your life to it. You can be in the top 1% of all the players in America and be living in your car. And it has to start in the early teen years so it's no surprise America isn't developing world class players. I personally see no hope in sight until and unless this game has a reputation as something worthy of committing one's life to which it hasn't ever had in the USA.
Look at some of the top players who have said screw this I need a real career. I see one in the top ten of the fargo list for USA.
Your memory is failing you. David nearly always plays well at the Mosconi. I've been attending for about fifteen years and I have seen it up close.
The argument for Alcaide, beyond the fact that he has a great track record in the Mosconi over many years, is that he has shown great form in both singles and doubles in the last three months alone, getting bronze at the US Open 9ball and gold at the WPA Men's Doubles World Championship. His current form is, to me, very strong. If he's not chosen, I'll like Team USA's chances a little more.
Who on Team USA is beating him? In his two biggest spots of late, though in dead stroke on each occasion, he lost in the UK Open quarters to Jayson Shaw and lost the US Open 9ball semifinal to FSR. Yes, he's beatable .... by a European.
I acknowledged Alcaide plays well in the Mosconi. As I wrote, he has been "very consistent and reliable."
Being consistent and reliable vs. unreliable Team USA players is a recipe for success. Alcaide's Mosconi record is as good as anyone's on Team Europe.
I still think he is more beatable than other members of the team, assuming each player plays at their highest level. Like other older players - Carlos Biado comes to mind - Alcaide struggles with longer somewhat straight-in shots. And he makes a glaring mistake now and then that is completely unexpected.
Agreed. He is in great form. Neuhausen is not, and Alcaide would give Team Europe a better chance than Szolnoki.
I think any Team USA player can beat him.
SVB and Gorst are flat out better. I'd give Alcaide a clear edge over the other three U.S. players, but I'd rather Bergman play Alcaide than Filler, FSR or Shaw.
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100% certain Szolnoki will get a wild-card.
It does two things for Matchroom.
1. It rewards loyalty to the tour, as Oliver has played all of the events and he was #4 in the prize money.
2. Being brutal, Oliver on the team increases the chances of a USA win. Oliver is a rookie and the atmosphere will be completely new to him.
The other wild-card will be David Alcaide.
It does two things for Matchroom.
1. It rewards loyalty to the tour, as Oliver has played all of the events and he was #4 in the prize money.
2. Being brutal, Oliver on the team increases the chances of a USA win. Oliver is a rookie and the atmosphere will be completely new to him.
The other wild-card will be David Alcaide.
Agreed with point 2.
You think it's mist likely that Marchroom's live affair with Shaw will end? It will at some point, but I'm not betting on it.