TWO members of the victorious European Mosconi Cup-winning side will go head-to-head at the 2009 PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters.
The event, which will be staged at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, USA, from May 8 to May 10, features 16 of the best players in the world, all vying for the $20,000 top prize.
The pick of the first round matches sees Tony Drago and Niels Feijen, two of the players who helped Europe win the last two Mosconi Cups, paired together in a mouth-watering clash.
Filipino Alex Pagulayan, who defeated Finn Mika Immonen in the 2008 Masters final, has a tough opening tie as he is up against Holland's Nick Van Den Berg, the current European number three.
Barry Hearn, Matchroom Sport's Chairman, believes the 2009 Masters could be the best yet.
"Once again the Masters has thrown up a selection of superb first round games that would require a brave man to pick the winner," said Hearn.
"Alex Pagulayan has the toughest of matches as he opens his defence against dangerous Dutchman Nick van den Berg.
"That's followed by Johnny Archer's first Masters appearance since 2004 when he faces Imran Majid. The Englishman knocked Shane Van Boening out of this event at a similar stage last year and will fancy the job again.
"Van Boening may well have an easier task this time round when he squares off against young Korean girl Yu Ram Cha, but she can certainly play and the South Dakota Kid will be under pressure from the off.
"Tony Drago meets Niels Feijen in a match no one would want to predict while five times Masters champion Ralf Souquet has a potential banana skin as he goes up against rising young Russian star Ruslan Chinakhov.
"Another potentially explosive confrontation sees World Tenball Champion Darren Appleton plays '05 Masters winner Raj Hundal. Now representing India, ‘The Hitman' is as confident as they come, while Appleton is quietly establishing himself as one of the most feared players in the world.
"Filipino dangerman Dennis Orcollo goes up against Canadian veteran Alain Martel and in the final match of the first round, US Open Champion and '08 Masters runner-up Mika Immonen has an unenviable clash with Chinaman Jianbo Fu, a World Cup and Challenge of Champions winner."
PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters 2009
All matches are race to eight, winner breaks.
Friday, May 8, 7.00pm (all times are local)
First round
Match 1. - Alex Pagulayan (Philippines) v Nick van den Berg (Holland)
Match 2. - Johnny Archer (USA) v Imran Majid (England)
Match 3. - Shane Van Boening (USA) v Yu Ram Cha (Korea)
Saturday, May 9, 2.00pm
Match 4. - Niels Feijen (Holland) v Tony Drago (Malta)
Match 5. - Ralf Souquet (Germany) v Ruslan Chinakhov (Russia)
Match 6. - Darren Appleton (England) v Raj Hundal (India)
Saturday, May 9, 7.00pm
Match 7. - Dennis Orcollo (Philippines) v Alain Martel (Canada)
Match 8. - Mika Immonen (Finland) v Fu Jianbo (China)
Match 9. - Quarter-final 1.
Sunday, May 10, 2.00pm
Match 10. - Quarter-final 2.
Match 11. - Quarter-final 3.
Match 12. - Quarter-final 4.
Sunday, May 10, 2.00pm
Match 13. - Semi-final 1.
Match 14. - Semi-final 2.
Match 15. - Final
Matches are listed in sequence so that the winners of Matches 1 & 2 will contest Quarter-Final 1.
