 Nick Varner |
MATCHROOM SPORT can announce that four-time Mosconi Cup winner Nick Varner will return as captain of Team American at this year’s event which takes place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from 10-13 December.
Varner, 61, has successfully captained America to Mosconi Cup victory, initially as a player and then as non-playing skipper in 2003, when he inspired a famous last day comeback to secure victory.
‘The Kentucky Colonel’ made his debut in the competition in the winning side of 1997 and was also on the winner’s rostrum the following year and in 2001.
He was a member of the side that lost in the event’s last ever staging at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London in 2002 but returned the following year in Las Vegas to lead his side to victory.
Overall, Varner carries an eight wins from 19 matches record and will have plenty of experience to draw on when the much-anticipated action gets underway on Thursday 10th December.
Varner was at the helm at last year’s disastrous attempt to win the Cup outright for the first time since 2005 when his team went down 11-5 in Malta to a powerful European side.
However, 12 months on, there are changes in the side with Oscar Dominguez making his debut after a great year and Corey Deuel returning to the fray for the first time since ’06.
Johnny Archer makes his 13th Mosconi appearance and Shane Van Boening returns, hoping to record his first ever Mosconi Cup triumph.
"I am very excited to be once again representing the USA in the Mosconi Cup this year. What a great team we have and I am proud to be a part of it once again,” said Varner.
“After last year, we are more determined than ever to keep the Cup here, and when we are done with them Team Europe they will have one long trip home, empty handed."
Live in its entirety on Sky Sports in the UK, the event features two five-man teams representing Europe and the USA doing battle in a series of singles and doubles matches. Now in its 16th year, the Americans hold a 10-5 lead with one tied match in 2006.
The remaining American player will be announced on Monday 16th November at the conclusion of the Mosconi Cup Idol vote which is currently taking place on the pages of www.matchroompool.com .
Tickets for the Mosconi Cup are available from:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/2009-Mosconi-Cup-tickets/artist/1334375
Or 1-800 745 300 or from the MGM Grand on 1-800 929 1111 or 702 891 7777.
