The Betfair Contrarian: Why Europe won't win the Mosconi Cup

Other / The Betfair Contrarian / 07 December 2010 / 3 Comments

The precision of a Robin Hood - John Archer will be a key player for the USA

"USA were comfortable winners of last year's Mosconi Cup in Las Vegas, seizing a 4-1 advantage on the opening day and never at any point looking in danger of relinquishing the lead."

The Betfair Contrarian is in pretty good form at the moment and intends to build on that. Here's why red-hot favourittes Europe need to come to terms with why they won't be winning the Mosconi Cup on home soil...

The Betfair Contrarian: Why Europe won't win the Mosconi Cup

The Contrarian was left celebrating yet another winner last week as Russia - who he tipped at [3.4] in July - were chosen to host the 2018 World Cup. But while Europe was divided by FIFA's beauty contest, the pool-playing public of England and Holland (and Finland and Germany too) will need to be united from Thursday to Sunday as Europe scrap with USA for the Mosconi Cup - the nine-ball pool version of the Ryder Cup. Europe are [1.7] favourites but the Contrarian doesn't fancy their chances. Here's why...
USA are the holders...

USA were comfortable winners of last year's Mosconi Cup in Las Vegas, seizing a 4-1 advantage on the opening day and never at any point looking in danger of relinquishing the lead. During the 16-year history of the competition, in which USA lead Europe 11-4 when it comes to outright triumphs, there has only ever been one occasion where USA have had an isolated success and failed to retain and that was in 1995 when, having won the inaugural tournament the previous year, they were edged out by the narrowest margin ever recorded - Europe won it 16-15.

...and have kept that team together

Whereas Europe's 2010 team features a debutant - Blackpool-born Paul Boyes - and a player whose only previous appearance came in last year's defeat in Las Vegas - Darren Appleton, who lost all four of his matches - all five USA representatives have been victorious before. Four of the players (Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel, Shane Van Boening and Dennis Hatch) were champions 12 months ago, while arguably the weakest link of that side, Oscar Dominguez, has been replaced by the current Billiard Congress of America-ranked number one Rodney Morris, a veteran of six tournaments.

Home advantage counts for little

Since the decision to start alternating the hosting of the Mosconi Cup in 2003 (before then it was always held in England), Europe have taken the trophy as often on American soil as they have on European, proving that if there is any advantage to playing in front of a crowd primarily formed of compatriots, it's a very minimal one. Europe's one win as hosts in that period came in Malta in 2008, and even then it's difficult to attribute that success to location as the national hero Tony Drago - born in Valletta - lost all three of the matches that he was involved in.

The York Hall is far from a lucky venue for Europe

Much has been made in the build up about how the Mosconi Cup is returning to its spiritual home, the York Hall in Bethnal Green, after an eight-year absence. But while Europe's players are excited about competing at the venue, famed primarily for staging boxing bouts, it's hardly been the arena of many memorable European victories. Of the six times the Cup has been contested in the East End before, USA took it home with them on five occasions, with the last of Europe's defeats there being the most emphatic of all - a 12-1 thrashing in 2001. To put into context just how shocking a loss that was, never before or since has either team ever failed to score fewer than five points.

USA are experts at winning

Hawaiian player Rodney Morris isn't short of confidence on his first visit to the York Hall and believes that the American psyche presents them with a huge advantage: "One thing to remember is this. For many years, people from different countries have come to the US to learn how to win. Americans don't live in other countries to learn how to win. It's just an edge we have - an extra killer instinct if you will. We Americans have the heart advantage, period. Europeans have the titles. It's the same as it is every year. The Europeans are the favourites until we get in there and show our heart. It's simple, there's no secret there, it's all about heart, heart, heart!"

Comments (3)

1. Anonymous | 09 December 2010

   OK, so first a couple of mistakes. It's Johnny Archer - NEVER John - and Karl Boyes - NOT Paul.

   OK, let's get onto the pool. Europe are heavy favourites to win. Home advantage is going to be huge this year. The UK pool fans have been itching for the Mosconi Cup to be back in the York Hall and now they've got one of the strongest teams they've ever put out.

   It's been a long time since the Mosconi Cup was held at the York Hall and the atmosphere is going to be phenominal. One of the questions being asked within the pool world is how Dennis Hatch will react to the crowd being against him this year?

   Personally, I'm thinking it will be a European victory by 11 matches to 8.

2. Anonymous | 09 December 2010

   good article but who's Paul Boyes?

3. Tony Smith | 12 December 2010

   Yougot this wrong didn't you