Matchroom Sport are pleased to announce that Finland's Mika Immonen and Niels Feijen (Holland) are the final two players to make up the European team for this year's 15th annual Mosconi Cup which takes place at the Hilton Hotel, Portomaso, St Julians, Malta from December 11 – 14.
Immonen, 35, became only the second ever European player to win the prestigious US Open at the weekend when he dispatched 2006 World Pool Champion Ronnie Alcano of the Philippines 13-7 in the final.
The American-based Finn was a member of the successful European Mosconi Cup side in 2002 and will be desperate to make amends for 2006 when he was two balls away from winning the Mosconi Cup for Europe.
“It's amazing to be back in the team again. It was one of the driving forces that kept me fighting for the US Open title,” he said.
“I said to my friends before the Open that I am going to win this one and earn my spot back on the Mosconi Cup team. It's the only way and it's the right way. I simply had to show why I think I should be on that team.
Immonen who will be making his 12th Mosconi Cup appearance and has recorded 27 wins from 55 matches added, “I am looking forward to it all and I will fight just as hard on the team so we can retain the title.”
For Feijen, the 31 year-old from The Hague, it has been a culmination of a highly successful year that saw him claim the WPA World Straight Pool Championship in August.
“It's been a great year for me and I think I deserve to be in the team again. Of the five major events out there, I've finished in the top three in three of them including being runner up at the Qatar International Open and third place at the recent World Ten Ball Championship.
Feijen was one of the back bones of the European side that won so well in Las Vegas last year and overall, sports a 10 wins from 17 starts record in the event.
Immonen and Feijen now join Germany's Ralf Souquet, Tony Drago (Malta) and Mark Gray of England to make up what looks to be one of the strongest European teams in recent years.
Commented Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn, “It was always going to be a very tough decision and someone was going to be disappointed but that is a testament to the current strength in depth of European pool.
“Mika and Niels have played in a total of 15 Mosconi Cups between them and have both experienced victory in the event so they know all about what is required.
“Their achievements this year have been exceptional and I am sure they will be as keen as anyone to be a member of the first European team to successfully defend the Mosconi Cup.”
The final two players for the American team will be announced on Friday 31st October.
This year will see the 15th running of pool's answer to the Ryder Cup and the current score stands at 10 ½ - 3 ½ to the Americans.
The official sponsors of the 2008 Mosconi Cup are PartyCasino.com, Brunswick Tables, Simonis Cloth, Super Aramith Pro Balls and Predator Cues.
A range of superb value hotel and ticket packages are available from the Official Mosconi Cup Travel Agents www.alleventsmalta.com
For tickets only please go to www.maltacup.org
