Mosconi Cup 2025, Dec. 3-6, Alexandra Palace, London

SA96 said:
Press conference got spicy.

Tyler told Filler that the rest of the Europe team didn't want him on the team last year, because of the WPA issue.

Shaw said SVB wanted Sky to pick Lukas over Billy. Shane didn't really deny it.
Click to expand...
Spicy indeed. Ripped the bandage off the Filler situation.

It all started with Shaw mentioning Shane wanted Lukas over Billy for the team. Shaw made the statement in the context of suggesting future Mosconi teams should have six players instead of five. Give more players a chance, have a backup in case of ill health, reward guys like Lukas who play most tour events.

If you want to get ugly, Tyler, said, "we can get fucking ugly too." He went on a riff about how the European players didn't want Filler on the team last year. Styer said even Moritz was mad at Filler, something Mike Panozzo has also said recently.

Shaw frankly acknowledged it was the players, in fact, who didn't want Josh on the team in 2024. With Josh sitting by his side, he was upfront about it, credit to him.

By the end of the conference, Gorst and Styer were steamed. Billy was ticked off. Sky was defiant. SVB just smiled and shrugged at it all.

Definitely uncomfortable for Josh, but Shaw also came to his defense. Said the U.S. players wanted him banned simply because they are afraid of him.

Shaw also said the U.S. has to import non Americans because they basically suck. They need European coaches, European players, and soon South American players (a veiled reference to Jesus Atencio).

I was surprised Emily let it all go, but she knows controversy and drama sells. Better not to dance around the Josh issue and evade it like she has done since last year's Mosconi.

Old timer Mosconi players say the opposing players need to stop being buddy buddy during the event and play as if they enemies. I am all for it. Maybe the U.S. will play better with a chip on its shoulder.
 
Maybe all that shit talking from Jayson will light a fire in Team USA and make them want it more which results in them playing better.

I for one, was highly entertained by that back and forth. We need more of that. I also like when players drop little inside pool lore that the fans may not be aware of, like SVB preferring Lukas over Billy on the team, and wanting to stake Lukas in a match.

Also found it funny that Billy turned it into a "me vs Lukas" thing and asking if Jayson will back Lukas. Definitely showed some insecurity there. Jayson was just trying to give other guys a chance to be on the team, without having to kick another player off (like Billy), but Billy turned it into no, I deserve to be here, F those other guys who travel all year and work their ass off.
 
It won't be close, again.
Still the most fun event

I love a press conference that gets spicy between the weight class champion vs. the bs mandatory contender 😂😂
 
I found the entire press conference a complete joke and a perfect example of why pool remains in the sports industry gutter. To follow up all the garbage comments and amateur theater with her immediately shilling for ticket sales before closing the conference seemed perfect, they can't even sell out the marquee event in their own backyard!

Do they really think this event/league/tour can compete with legitimate sports on the world stage? Why would any sponsor want to get involved in this mess? I feel like I've had the wool pulled over my eyes the last few years by Matchroom and their big talk but this all just seemed like a joke, right down to the ugly red and blue couches. Pool will remain in the dumpster with the likes of Jason Shaw being its spokesperson.
 
dukblowz said:
I found the entire press conference a complete joke and a perfect example of why pool remains in the sports industry gutter. To follow up all the garbage comments and amateur theater with her immediately shilling for ticket sales before closing the conference seemed perfect, they can't even sell out the marquee event in their own backyard!

Do they really think this event/league/tour can compete with legitimate sports on the world stage? Why would any sponsor want to get involved in this mess? I feel like I've had the wool pulled over my eyes the last few years by Matchroom and their big talk but this all just seemed like a joke, right down to the ugly red and blue couches. Pool will remain in the dumpster with the likes of Jason Shaw being its spokesperson.
Click to expand...
What legitimate sport are you thinking of that doesn't have colorful characters and controversy. Tiger Woods was a man-ho, Phil Mickelson is a degenerate gambler and led a coup against the PGA...golf is still relevant.

Don't even need to mention NBA and NFL. MLB had some of it's highest ratings when two juice heads were chasing a home run record...still relevant.

Snooker and match fixing, Higgins drunken outbursts...still relevant. Interesting post....
 
d1 25.jpg
 
jokrswylde said:
What legitimate sport are you thinking of that doesn't have colorful characters and controversy. Tiger Woods was a man-ho, Phil Mickelson is a degenerate gambler and led a coup against the PGA...golf is still relevant.

Don't even need to mention NBA and NFL. MLB had some of it's highest ratings when two juice heads were chasing a home run record...still relevant.

Snooker and match fixing, Higgins drunken outbursts...still relevant. Interesting post....
Click to expand...
Tend to agree. Pool needs more controversy, bad blood imo. Today's crop of robotic milk-drinkers are about as exciting as watching snails fk.Pool needs McEnroe's, Probert's,Alzado's(sue me i'm old school) to spice up the show.
 
SA96 said:
They will end day 3 early if there is a risk of there being no result.

But you're right, I am worried that day 4 might only have 1 or 2 matches.
Click to expand...
No way will there be six matches played on Day Three! Could be as few as four, five max.
 
jbart65 said:
Spicy indeed. Ripped the bandage off the Filler situation.

It all started with Shaw mentioning Shane wanted Lukas over Billy for the team. Shaw made the statement in the context of suggesting future Mosconi teams should have six players instead of five. Give more players a chance, have a backup in case of ill health, reward guys like Lukas who play most tour events.

If you want to get ugly, Tyler, said, "we can get fucking ugly too." He went on a riff about how the European players didn't want Filler on the team last year. Styer said even Moritz was mad at Filler, something Mike Panozzo has also said recently.

Shaw frankly acknowledged it was the players, in fact, who didn't want Josh on the team in 2024. With Josh sitting by his side, he was upfront about it, credit to him.

By the end of the conference, Gorst and Styer were steamed. Billy was ticked off. Sky was defiant. SVB just smiled and shrugged at it all.

Definitely uncomfortable for Josh, but Shaw also came to his defense. Said the U.S. players wanted him banned simply because they are afraid of him.

Shaw also said the U.S. has to import non Americans because they basically suck. They need European coaches, European players, and soon South American players (a veiled reference to Jesus Atencio).

I was surprised Emily let it all go, but she knows controversy and drama sells. Better not to dance around the Josh issue and evade it like she has done since last year's Mosconi.

Old timer Mosconi players say the opposing players need to stop being buddy buddy during the event and play as if they enemies. I am all for it. Maybe the U.S. will play better with a chip on its shoulder.
Click to expand...
The press conference might be the most exciting part of this year's MC. All the talk in the world will not help Team USA. They're overmatched and undergunned.
 
Trash talk is fine as long as Shaw knows that Europe is a huge favorite with or without him.
It's not that the US sucks, but rather the US does not promote the game like Europe does, has fewer players, and will always be the underdog.
The cup will always be Europe's to lose.
It's the exact opposite as it once was. 9ball was huge in the US and the Euros had to force snooker players to join their teams.
At that time the cup was the USA's to lose.
It is an exhibition and a lot of fun to watch imo. It is also nice to see the best players in the world deal with the most stressful professional match of their lives.
The pressure makes them look human to us amateurs when they crack and superhuman when they battle through it successfully.
I look forward to watching it every year, despite the odds.
 
garczar said:
Tend to agree. Pool needs more controversy, bad blood imo. Today's crop of robotic milk-drinkers are about as exciting as watching snails fk.Pool needs McEnroe's, Probert's,Alzado's(sue me i'm old school) to spice up the show.
Click to expand...

you should check out the junior world championship finals on pred youtube channel today haha. new japanese player that made one wonder if ismael paez visited japan 18 years ago.. playing against another dynamic youngster, felix vogel.

i had never seen this ayoi play before but i'm sure we'll see more of him. massive talent, different style
 
SA96 said:
Disagree.

A team with Fedor and SVB is never undergunned.
Click to expand...
you have looked at SVB's record in this, right? Its not just two players but all five and they,the Euro's, have better depth. IMO Thorpe is a big underdog playing ANY of that squad. i just hope we show up, winning is a pipe dream. Come Sat. nite i'd love to be proved wrong but i just don't see any other outcome. I'm still baffled that Wolford or Lukas wasn't picked. They both play better 9b than BT.
 
Last edited:
garczar said:
you have looked at SVB's record in this, right? Its not just two players but all five and they,the Euro's, have better depth. IMO Thorpe is a big underdog playing ANY of that squad. i just hope we show up, winning is a pipe dream. Come Sat. nite i'd love to be proved wrong but i just don't see any other outcome. I'm still baffled that Wolford or Lukas wasn't picked. They both play better 9b than BT.
Click to expand...
I was pleasantly surprised by Billy last year. I was expecting him to get absolutely blown up, but he held his own. Even tactically, which i consider a MASSIVE weakness for the US.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top