MOSCONI CUP 2023 AZB Watch Party / Master Thread

Game 6

Alcaide breaks and makes the 1 top corner. The table is open, but getting from the long 2 back for the 3 will require a big draw. He attempts it and misses badly.

Wolford misses a long bank at the corner he was shooting for, but it comes all the way back and drops in the bottom corner. He drops a very tough 3 shot, and now the table sets up for him. Getting from the 4 on the side rail to the 6 on the bottom end rail will require a precision draw, and he executes it to perfection. Easy out from here with a hanging 7 and 8. He lines up the 9 in the same corner he missed it in last game, so nervy, but he slides it in.

Score 3-3
 
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Lynch said:
Haven't seen lineups for today yet. With the current scoreline, USA's chance of actually winning the cup is probably around 1% imo. Everyone else on team USA has got plenty of action at this point. Some have played decent in spots, but sub par overall. Wolford hasn't played much and has dogged a couple, but also came with with some clutch shots. He's the rookie and it's understandable why he's been hidden a little. Day 2 Jeremy came out all in on Fedor and it didn't work. Day 3 Jeremy came out all in on Sky and it didn't work. Shane has looked somewhat disinterested after the initial team match and team USA has been in this spot many times before and typically hasn't come out inspiring the team when way behind. So I don't think that's the play.

So throw Wolford out there first match. You throw Wolford out and he loses, ok, based on what we've seen so far, odds were Europe was getting to the hill anyways. What if Wolford wins and plays well? Could it inspire the team? It's kind of a hail mary, but I'm sure he's hungry, not disinterested, and he was picked for a reason. Let's show a little confidence in him. What we know for sure is, if Europe gets to the hill anytime in the next 5 matches, it's over for sure. Throw the rookie out there and live a little. For USA to win, he'll be needed at some point anyways and doesn't need any more added pressure with Europe on the hill by the time he's thrown out there. As a spectator rooting for USA, I would like to see him play a singles match as well. What if he continues to get better in general and could be a staple for the cup in the future? Now is the time to see what you've got in the kid and you just never know, maybe he plays well.

Let's go USA! I know it's pretty much over, but not official until it's official.

Lastly, team Europe being ridiculous and celebrating when they do doesn't bother me in the least. If they weren't, this cup would be even less exciting. I personally like it when both fans and the players get excited and rile each other up. Also, there will hopefully come a day again when USA can celebrate a little more too. During interviews with team Europe members after matches, they've all been very respectful even when they could have said USA is dogging it, etc., etc. When the microphone is in their face, they are more than respectful imo. Just my two cents.
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I agree completly. The Playing to the crowd and celebrating is what makes the mosconi so special and different even though Shaw annoys the hell out of me. 😂In the pre and post game they are all class and never talk badly about their opponent. They show total respect
 
something_pool said:
Shane Wolford broke, made a ball, and another ball flew off the table, which is ruled a foul and gives Alcaide BIH. That has to be the dumbest rule in the books. Crazy that he's penalized for that break.
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You think you should not get a penalty when you throw a ball off the table?
 
Game 7

Wolford breaks and the 7 flies off the table after getting kicked by the bouncing CB. It stays down and it's a foul. The 8 also dropped.

Alcaide takes BIH on an "ok" table. Has to work for shape on the 2, and leaves himself a tough long cut which he drains with perfect shape. He should be out from here, and he is.

Score 4-3 Alcaide.
 
Mousa said:
You think you should not get a penalty when you throw a ball off the table?
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On the break, yes, because that ball flying off the table was a complete random fluke. His break on that rack was pretty standard, and he did nothing that you could point to that led to the ball flying off the table. So why should he give up BIH on that?
 
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