To most of us, pool is a game played after a few pints down the local and that’s only because the average public bar doesn’t have room for a full-size snooker table.
However, it’s always meant much more to the hustlers of Las Vegas, Atlantic City and San Remo and Team USA doesn’t take kindly to getting its ‘ass’ kicked by Team Europe in a sport if regards as one of its own. Amid a rising tide of patriotism in America there is added pressure, therefore, attached to this year’s Mosconi Cup.
The USA hasn’t won this annual event since 2009 and victory in the 23rd staging of the competition would draw Europe level overall (there’s been one tie).
Team Europe have, in fact, won the last six with something to spare so it’s no surprise that bookmakers have the hosts as overwhelming favourites at Alexandra Palace in London next week (a best 4/9 with Ladbrokes).
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Europe will again be led by ‘The Terminator’. Dutchman Niels Feijin is a world champion and four-time MVP in the Mosconi Cup. He is 10/3 with William Hill to be Top European in this year’s match-up with Jayson Shaw, the rising star of world pool, only a best 7/2 despite making his Mosconi Cup debut. Captain Marcus Chamat’s wildcard picks, Austria’s Albin Ouschan and England’s Darren Appleton, are 4/1 and 9/2 respectively with William Hill with Mark Gray available at 5/1.
The USA are led by Shane Van Boening. who will be making his 10th appearance in American colours, and he will be joined by Mike Dechaine and Skyler Woodward, who came second and third on the ranking list respectively. The two wildcards are the highly-experienced Rodney Morris, who will also be making his 10th appearance, and Justin Bergman, who comes into the side for the third time.
Van Boening is 9/4 with William Hill to be Top American with Morris at a general 4/1. Correct score betting is available with several bookmakers with an 11-7 or an 11-8 win in favour of Team Europe currently favoured at a best 7/1 – the latter looks a decent call as I just can’t see Team USA ending their slump as having a home crowd in the Mosconi Cup can be a huge advantage.
