Mosconi Teams announced

[Timberly]

Press release is on the homepage of another billiards website. I'm not allowed to post links diverting folks from az without permission but I guess I can tell you that the story is listed on the homepage of insidepoolmag.com

I'm not encouraging people to leave az and go over there, I'm just sharing a news update that I think a lot of people in the pool world care to know.

 

[SCCues]

Press release is on the homepage of another billiards website. I'm not allowed to post links diverting folks from az without permission but I guess I can tell you that the story is listed on the homepage of insidepoolmag.com

I'm not encouraging people to leave az and go over there, I'm just sharing a news update that I think a lot of people in the pool world care to know.

Johnny Archer (Georgia)

Rodney Morris (Hawaii)

Earl Strickland (North Carolina)

Mike Davis (Maryland)

Corey Deuel (Ohio)

I like all of the players selected for the Mosconi cue team, but I don't know Mike Davis's game that well. I'd like to hear what some other AZ members think of Mike Davis being selected to the Mosconi cup team. I'm not saying that he shouldn't be on the team only that i'm not as familiar with him as much as I am with the other 4 players.

 

[sniper]

Some interesting picks on both sides with the US picking Davis and Europe selecting Imran Majid, both rookies to the event. I was a little surprised Gabe wasn't selected but you can't really argue because there are so many great players that you could make a case for. Majid was definitely a surprise for me, you know that Matchroom Sport is going to pick a English player every year with the event being broadcast live throughout the UK but I thought that player might be Hundal or Peach.


Hopefully this year they will scratch the shot clock idea, for anyone that got to see coverage of last year's event they would probably agree that the shot clock really hurt the level of play causing many players to rush and miss shots they would otherwise have made 99 out of 100. Perhaps they could just use it for the Archer and Souquet matches Anyways I will be looking forward to this year's event, this is truly one of pool's most prestigious events!

 

[Bob Jewett]

Press release is ...

The press release is from Matchroom Sport, and I think they would be delighted to see it here.

From: "Luke Riches" <luke.riches(at)matchroom.com>

Press Release -- 9th OCTOBER 2006 -- MOSCONI CUP TEAMS ANNOUNCED

'Best from Both Sides' to Contest Rotterdam Showdown

With the annual Mosconi Cup USA v Europe 9-ball clash set to take place at the historic Cruise Terminal, Rotterdam, Holland in December, promoters Matchroom Sport can announce the two sides to contest the 13th running of pool's biggest team event.

The two teams march into battle from 7 - 10 December over four passionate days of singles, doubles and trebles play in an event broadcast live throughout on Sky Sports in the UK and SBS6 and Sport 1 in Holland and on delay by Fox Net in the States.

Team USA are once again defending champions in an event they have dominated in recent years, including a comfortable defence in Las Vegas last time out.

There are five players named for each side with the sixth member being decided after the 2006 Philippines World Pool Championship which takes place from 4-12 November.

This is in the event of an unnamed player doing well enough in the WPC to warrant Mosconi Cup inclusion.

There is one debutant on the American side as Mike Davis, following a couple of near misses, finally gets his chance.

Corey Deuel, who recorded 9 wins from 13 matches from 2000-2002, returns to the fray, whilst Archer, Morris and Strickland have superlative records in the event.

The five players selected are:
Johnny Archer (Georgia)
Rodney Morris (Hawaii)
Earl Strickland (North Carolina)
Mike Davis (Maryland)
Corey Deuel (Ohio)

For the Europeans there are wholesale changes to the side that capitulated in Las Vegas in December last year.

Only Mika Immonen remains and he will be joined by the German pairing of Ralf Souquet, returning to Mosconi Cup duty following a three year absence, and European No.1 Thomas Engert

Nick van den Berg (Holland) and debutant Imran Majid of England get in following impressive years on the EuroTour.

The five players selected are:
Mika Immonen (Finland)
Imran Majid (England)
Ralf Souquet (Germany)
Thomas Engert (Germany)
Nick van den Berg (Holland)

Barry Hearn, Chairman of promoters Matchroom Sport, said "I believe we have the best players from each side of the pond contesting the Mosconi Cup this year.

"There are a lot of great players out there but we have looked closely at the various rankings as well as individual performances throughout the year and we're all looking forward to what promises to be another classic Mosconi Cup."

This is the 13th running of pool's answer to the Ryder Cup and the current score stands at 10 - 2 to the Americans.

The official sponsors of the 2006 Mosconi Cup are Brunswick Tables, Simonis Cloth, Super Aramith Pro Balls and Predator Cues.

 

[Timberly]

The press release is from Matchroom Sport, and I think they would be delighted to see it here.

I'm sure people would be delighted to see it posted but since I'm not allowed to post links to where it was located, I didn't think it was fair to the other site for me post their stuff here.

It's since been added to the AZ homepage.

 

[TX Poolnut]

Kinda surprised the current US Open champion isn't selected. I thought that was a given each year. Hmm...

 

[Timberly]

As for the choice of players... They took the top 3 ranked (UPA rankings) which includes Mike Davis. There's one spot left on each team... Normally if an American wins the US Open that gives them a spot on the team. This yr because the WPC will be held prior to the Cup, they're going to wait and see who wins the Cup. The way I understand it, if an American wins the cup, they'll get the spot. If an American doesn't win, it will go to John Schmidt.

 

[TATE]

Some interesting picks on both sides with the US picking Davis and Europe selecting Imran Majid, both rookies to the event. I was a little surprised Gabe wasn't selected but you can't really argue because there are so many great players that you could make a case for. Majid was definitely a surprise for me, you know that Matchroom Sport is going to pick a English player every year with the event being broadcast live throughout the UK but I thought that player might be Hundal or Peach.

I was talking to a veteran pro player a few months ago, and he told me that Majid is really a stong competitor and from what he said, definitely belongs with this group.

It should be a pretty good match - I see a lot of balance there. I wonder which team will be favored in the betting? I don't see a clear favorite myself.

Chris

 

[chrstc]

Hello,

Some good points raised all round here!
Imran has been selected due to his Euro Tour performance and in particular his victory in Montefalcone, Italy. Believe it or not he's the first Brit to ever win a Euro Tour event. He performed well at the WPM this year too beating Alex Lely and giving Ralf Souquet more to think about than the score line might have suggested! I'm personally very happy to see him on the team.

Personally for me the big story is Corey Deuel's return. I'm really torn on this. He's one of my favourite players, stupendously talented and with a wonderful Mosconi record. However given that I want a European win I think I'd have preferred someone else in his place for this one

Thanks,
Chris (Chrstc).

 

[CrownCityCorey]

Johnny Archer (Georgia)

Rodney Morris (Hawaii)

Earl Strickland (North Carolina)

Mike Davis (Maryland)

Corey Deuel (Ohio)

I like all of the players selected for the Mosconi cue team, but I don't know Mike Davis's game that well. I'd like to hear what some other AZ members think of Mike Davis being selected to the Mosconi cup team. I'm not saying that he shouldn't be on the team only that i'm not as familiar with him as much as I am with the other 4 players.

Mike was not "picked". He earned his spot through UPA Rankings.

also, in years past the US Open Champion (if American) was selected. I assumed that John Schmidt was to round out the team. I was slightly surprised that he was not slotted in. Maybe because last years US Open champ was not an American, they changed the selection process.

 

[Timberly]

In previous years Schmidt would be straight in but because the WPC comes between now and the Mosconi they have to leave a spot open.

Unless another American player wins the WPC, then he (Schmidt) will be in the team.

 

[chrstc]

In previous years Schmidt would be straight in but because the WPC comes between now and the Mosconi they have to leave a spot open.

Unless another American player wins the WPC, then he (Schmidt) will be in the team.

Edited because of my stupidity. I understand Timberley's point properly now! Oops!!

Thanks,
Chris (Chrstc).

 

[BigMalUK]

I'm very disappointed with the European team. I don't think they stand a chance against that very strong American team.

To be brutally honest, if they continue to select teams in this way I can see the Mosconi Cup diminishing in viewing audience figures within Europe.

I'd like to see the format looked at as well as the selection process. Five players in each team is not enough for my liking and why not add a couple of female players into the mix? (at least this might help Europe!!). I think when it first begain there were female players taking part as I recall.

A couple of 'free picks' in a team of 9 or 10 players might be far more interesting. The five Europeans are not the best players under that kind of pressure in that kind of format regardless of what the rankings might say.

I predict yet another easy win for team USA.

 

[Snapshot9]

I don't know

I'm very disappointed with the European team. I don't think they stand a chance against that very strong American team.

To be brutally honest, if they continue to select teams in this way I can see the Mosconi Cup diminishing in viewing audience figures within Europe.

I'd like to see the format looked at as well as the selection process. Five players in each team is not enough for my liking and why not add a couple of female players into the mix? (at least this might help Europe!!). I think when it first begain there were female players taking part as I recall.

A couple of 'free picks' in a team of 9 or 10 players might be far more interesting. The five Europeans are not the best players under that kind of pressure in that kind of format regardless of what the rankings might say.

I predict yet another easy win for team USA.

How you can say that? That the European team is weak! Engert and Van de Beck are 2 seasoned pros who are good and a threat to beat
anyone. Granted, 9 ball may not be their best game, but they are pros.
And Souquet goes without saying. Majid is questionable, he is suppose to be real good, although he did not fare that well in the IPT touranments.

 

[sniper]

I'm very disappointed with the European team. I don't think they stand a chance against that very strong American team.

To be brutally honest, if they continue to select teams in this way I can see the Mosconi Cup diminishing in viewing audience figures within Europe.

I'd like to see the format looked at as well as the selection process. Five players in each team is not enough for my liking and why not add a couple of female players into the mix? (at least this might help Europe!!). I think when it first begain there were female players taking part as I recall.

A couple of 'free picks' in a team of 9 or 10 players might be far more interesting. The five Europeans are not the best players under that kind of pressure in that kind of format regardless of what the rankings might say.

I predict yet another easy win for team USA.

You certainly make some valid points, but I don't know about teams of 9/10 players. I certainly can't figure out for the life of me why Engert is on the team, he didn't win a single match in his previous Mosconi appearance and has struggled a little as of late, I would much rather see Hohmann or Ortmann (or both) on the European team.


Hopefully Europe practices their short straight in shots, they struggled with them last year

 

[chrstc]

Hello again,
Now that I've actually managed to read all of the press release I'm a bit confused by the mention of "trebles play". Obviously this is new to the Mosconi Cup and I've never seen it played so could anyone give me a rough idea of the rules of play? Is it just teams of 3, alternate shots or would that be "scotch trebles"!! I suppose the extra day of play this year is necessary because of these additional matches.
As those of you who like bowling will know Matchroom also sponsors a ten pin bowling USA vs Europe contest called the Weber Cup. In that they have a couple of rounds of "Baker" play where every player on both teams plays in a sort of mass bowl-off. I wonder whether they could introduce that into the Mosconi Cup. In the Weber cup Europe has never won a single Baker match!

Perhaps they could have a huge 1 life killer/survivor pool competition or something (Lol)

Thanks,
Chris (Chrstc).

 

[catscradle]

I'm very disappointed with the European team. I don't think they stand a chance against that very strong American team.

To be brutally honest, if they continue to select teams in this way I can see the Mosconi Cup diminishing in viewing audience figures within Europe.

I'd like to see the format looked at as well as the selection process. Five players in each team is not enough for my liking and why not add a couple of female players into the mix? (at least this might help Europe!!). I think when it first begain there were female players taking part as I recall.

A couple of 'free picks' in a team of 9 or 10 players might be far more interesting. The five Europeans are not the best players under that kind of pressure in that kind of format regardless of what the rankings might say.

I predict yet another easy win for team USA.

Maybe some kind of qualifier tournament would be appropriate on both sides of the "pond".

 

[catscradle]

... but since I'm not allowed to post links to where it was located...

Seriously Timberly? I'm somewhat disappointed with that as one of the founding principals of the "World Wide Web" (and therefore this website) is the FREE exchange of information.

 

[Timberly]

Seriously Timberly? I'm somewhat disappointed with that as one of the founding principals of the "World Wide Web" (and therefore this website) is the FREE exchange of information.

Do not divert traffic from AZB to inside pool without specific permission.

I've never seen it posted that links to anywhere couldn't be posted without specific permission. You might want to add that to the forum rules.

Don't do it again.

Myself and others have posted links to here on insidepool and JR never had a problem with it. But hey, no problem...no more links.

Yep, I'm serious. And he left me negative rep points saying "Do not divert traffic from AZ again."

 

[Nott]

Engert and Majid are ranked 2 & 3 on the current eurotour rankings behind Van den Berg. I guess thats why theire on the team.

Complete rankings: http://www.epbf.com/sportsite/Rankings/eurork.html