A Look Back at the 2011 Mosconi Cup (Day 3)

 

Day two (Friday) saw the USA Team make a phenomenal comeback, turning the score around from 4-1 down on Thursday evening to 6-4 down come the end of play on Friday. This included a run of the first four games of the day, before allowing Team Europe to put two more points on the wire to close out the days play.

 

Now all eyes would be on the home team to see if they could keep up the pressure on Team Europe, to get the match back on an even keel.

 

Darren wins the lag and Niels breaks, and Darren plays a safe - Mike tries a hard cut on 3 ball, but misses - Niels makes the 3 ball with long shot down the rail. Darren takes on a tough cut on the 5 ball, and misses. Shawn plays great carom to leave young gun Dechaine to make the 9 ball. At Europe 0 - USA 1, this is just the start Charlie Williams must have been dreaming of as he tossed and turned Friday night.

 

Mike comes up dry on the break, and Darren scratches in the side pocket while attempting the 3 ball. Resulting in a gift that leads to a run out. Europe 0 - USA 2.

 

I guess that this match would unfortunately prove that you do not always get what you wish for!!! As team USA would go on to lose game after game until the score settled at 5 - 2 to the Euro side.

 

In game three we saw Darren make the 4 ball on the break and the duo ran out. Europe 1 - USA 2.

 

Game four saw Shawn make an illegal break, giving the run out to Europe. Europe 2 - USA 2.

 

In game five Niels makes the 1 ball on the break - Darren makes the 2 ball, and Niels plays a lock safe behind the 9 ball. Mike fouls and Team Euro runs out. Another gift putting the score at Europe 3 - USA 2.

 

In game six Mike comes up dry, then Niels misses bank - Shawn then surprisingly misses the 1 ball, leaving Darren a 1/9 combo. Score now Europe 4 - USA 2.

 

In game seven Team Europe break and run out rack seven. Europe 5 - USA 2.

 

Shawn breaks game eight and the USA pairing run out for a welcome win. Europe 5 - USA 3.

 

Unfortunately this would be the last game in this match, as Darren and Niels took control of the last game with stunning safety play, and finished with an exhibition of how to kick your way out of safety. Final score line Europe 6 - USA 3. Overall score now Europe 7 - USA 4.

 

In this match Shawn looked to be in a vortex, and was spiraling in the wrong direction (downward). He could just do nothing right. He won the lag in game one and made the 1/3 on the break, and runs out to the 9 ball, to the delight of the USA fans. (They had not had much to cheer about so far in the days proceedings!!)

 

Then suddenly!! Oh, my god!!! Was the expression on everybody's face, as Shawn missed a relatively straight in 9 ball. Europe 1 - USA 0.

 

Shawn redeems himself in game two, after Darren scratches on the break, and Shawn runs out the rack. Europe 1 - USA 1.

 

In game three Shawn breaks, and has to play a safe. Darren plays a bad safe, leaving the 2 ball for Shawn. Shawn misses and leaves Darren the run out. Europe 2 - USA 1.

 

In game four Darren breaks and runs out. Europe 3 - USA 1.

 

In game five Shawn breaks, but scratches on the 2 ball at the start of his run out. Darren pounces and puts the score at Europe 4 - USA 1.

 

Darren breaks and starts his run out, but miss the 5 ball. Shawn accepts the gift and runs out. Europe 4 - USA 2.

 

Shawn makes an illegal break, and after a look see by Darren, gets it back. Shawn plays a bad safe, and Darren plays a lock up safe. Shawn fouls and Darren runs out yet another remaining rack. Europe 5 - USA 2. At this point it is a devastating position for both the USA Team and its fans. As they just cannot afford to lose any more matches if they realistically want to win the Mosconi Cup and return it to US soil.

 

In what would be the last game in the second match, Darren broke and scratched. However, he left Shawn a really difficult rack, with the 2 to the 3 being a hard shot as the 3 ball only went into one pocket. He went a little long going to the 3, and missed the 3 ball, which was now a hard cut. Darren jumped on it and ran out for the win. Europe 6 - USA 2. Overall score now Europe 8 - USA 4.

 

Ralf wins the lag, and Niels breaks - Ralf plays a safe, and Rodney plays a bad kick. Ralf starts the run out - First blood to Europe. Europe 1 - USA 0.

 

Johnny breaks and makes the 8 ball, leaving Rodney to have to play a safe, which he does not execute well. Ralf play a great safe, making Johnny having to kick at the 3 ball. Wow, what a great shot by Johnny, who makes it, and gets a run out underway. The fans go ballistic as the score is tied. Europe 1 - USA 1.

 

Ralf breaks making the 1 and 2 ball, and leaves Niels a tough 3 ball bank - Niels not only makes it but gets perfect position. Europe 2 - USA 1.

 

Rodney scratches on the break, leaving a clinical run out for the Euro pairing who were in total charge of the proceedings, and made a formidable team that looked unbeatable. Europe 3 - USA 1.

 

Niels to break - Ralf plays safe off the 3 ball. Johnny plays a so so safe. A safety battle ensues, before Rodney plays a neat carom to start the run out. Europe 3 - USA 2.

 

Johnny breaks dry, and the Euro boys jump on it and get the run out. Europe 4 - USA 2.

 

Ralf breaks and sets up another clinical run out for the strong Euro pairing. Europe 5 - USA 2.

 

In what would be the final “all she wrote” game, Rodney breaks and Johnny makes the 2 ball, then just as quickly Rodney misses the 3 ball to set up yet another run out for Niels and Ralf. This Euro pairing epitomized the meaning of the words - clinic, team work, and fighting spirit. They were unstoppable. Final score Europe 6 - USA 2. Overall score now Europe 9 - USA 4. Europe only need two more points to win the coveted Mosconi Cup.

 

Note: I wrote in my notes when the score was 2 - 1 to Europe in the last match that this was curtains for Team USA. It was maybe a little early to make such a prediction in this particular match, but as it happened Team USA would only put one more game on the wire in game five, when the score line was 3 - 2 in favor of Europe.

 

It should be noted that Matchroom Sport made a decision earlier in the proceedings during Saturdays play that they would play out all of the five scheduled matches for Saturday, even if a winner was decided. Thus making Sundays matches redundant. This is a break in tradition, were they usually stop play on Saturday if the score gets a bit lopsided, so they can have matches available for the Sunday ticket holders. So if the next two matches go to Europe it is all over. Good night nurse!!!!

 

 

 

Nick wins the break, but comes up dry. Shane makes clinical run out. Europe 0 - USA 1.

 

Shane breaks, then executes a 3/9 combo. Europe 0 - USA 2.

 

Nick makes 4/8 on break, then runs out. Europe 1 - USA 2.

 

Shane makes the 1 ball on the break, he makes the 2 and the 3 ball, but runs too far on the 4 ball and gets hooked behind the 7 ball. Shane plays a bad safe, and Nick pounces on it and runs out. Europe 2 - USA 2.

 

Nick comes up dry - safety ensues, until Nick makes a great 2 ball and also plays a great 3 ball bank. But, then misses the 4 ball allowing Shane to run out. Europe 2 - USA 3.

 

Shane breaks and makes the 6 ball. In attempting to play a hard cut on the 1 ball into the side pocket, the 1 ball hits the tit of the poclet and flies straight into the bottom pocket. Sometimes you need a little luck, right!!! Europe 2 - USA 4. The crowd is praying for a win for the USA Team at this juncture, so that they can come back on and spectate on Sunday.

 

Nick makes the 2 ball, but gets hooked on the 6 ball. He misses, and allows Shane the run out. Europe 2 - USA 5. The USA fans are really behind Shane at this point.

 

Nick catches another gear at this point and fires himself up with a lot of help from his fellow team members. He takes all three games to put the score at Europe 5 - USA 5. Now we have a nail biter on our hands!!! If Shane loses, its over.

 

Wow, you talk about excitement!!! Both fan bases are fired up and its of to the races!!!!!

 

Nick picks the wrong time to get an illegal break. Shane weighs up his options, and decides to take on a long 1 ball. He makes it like it had eyes on, and gets perfect on the 2 ball. The Dakota Kid runs out to the delight of the home fans and his team mates. I kept seeing two Charlie's. I guess he was beside himself!!!! Europe 5 - USA 6. Overall score now Europe 9 - USA 5.

 

Mike wins the lag, and makes the 1/6/7 balls on the break. He ran the rack out so quick, that if you blinked you missed it!!!! Europe 0 - USA 1. Can

Mike put another point on the board, we will have to wait and see!!!

 

Chris makes the 1/7 on the break, and runs out as quick as his opponent. Europe 1 - USA 1.

 

Mike comes up dry - Chris starts run out, but comes up bad on the 6 ball, safety battle begins until Mike takes on a bank on the 6 ball. Misses and lucks in the 7 ball. Runs out. Europe 1- USA 2.

 

Chris Melling who had already established himself as one of the strongest players on the 2011 Mosconi Cup Team, by those that witnessed his outstanding play in his first two days match ups. He is a rookie on paper, but has a great deal of experience in International events, as well as his achievements in his previous career on the snooker scene. Rookie he aint!!!!

 

Well Chris took hold of the reins in all of the next five games, and won them all to get another well earned point for the Euro Team. Europe 6 - USA 2. Overall score now Europe 10 - USA 5.

 

I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Johan Ruysink (Mosconi Cup European Team Manager) at the end of day ones play. I spoke specifically about the fact that Chris who is such a great shot maker (Probably from his snooker background), has a tendency to take on every shot no matter how hard the degree of difficulty. I made special reference to a particular shot that he played Thursday afternoon, when he attempted a crazy back cut on the 5 ball into a corner pocket, when all he had to do was play a stop shot putting the cue ball locked behind the nine ball, and sending the 5 ball three cushions to the opposite end of the table and to the same side rail as the cue ball.

 

Johan totally agreed with me and remembered that exact shot option. However, he pointed out that knowing that one of Chris's main strengths is his potting ability, he rationalized that although he may miss occasionally with this style of play, that he does not want him to play outside of his box so too speak. I thought that this showed just how good a motivator to his team Johan is. I hope I have not given away a trade secret here. If I have, I would please ask that you the reader please forget this part of my Mosconi Cup story. Thankyou!!!

 

We now know three things: We have matches taking place on Sunday (Day four) - We know that if Europe wins the first match it is all over at 11 - 5 and we know that there is the possibility of the USA Team winning all five matches tomorrow for a tie break match. Each team would pick one player for the final match if it ended up all square at 10 - 10.

 

You will have to wait for episode four for the outcome!!!