Joshua Filler says missing out on the 2018 partypoker Mosconi Cup gave him ‘motivation and fire’ and having now confirmed his place on the European team for this year is ready to wrestle the trophy back from Team USA when the transatlantic 9-ball showdown returns to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas this November 25-28, live on Sky Sports and DAZN.
Filler, then aged 20, was MVP as he became the youngest ever Mosconi winner in 2017 but missed out on selection 12 months ago. Instead, he had to watch from afar as Europe went down 11-9 to USA in one of the most memorable partypoker Mosconi Cups ever played.
Since then the energetic young German has won the World 9-Ball Championship, partypoker US Open 9-Ball and was runner-up at the Predator World 10-Ball Championship last week, a finish which saw him guarantee his place in the top three of the Team EUROPE rankings, ensuring a spot on Marcus Chamat’s team in Vegas.
“It feels absolutely great to be back on the team after I missed it last year,” said Filler. “I’m ready to get the Cup back.
“It would mean a lot to me to lift the trophy again because the partypoker Mosconi Cup is a real special event which can’t be compared to any other event. I’ll fight for the team and make Europe proud again.
“I was really sad and disappointed that I missed out last year. Honestly, I was crying. In the end I’m really thankful that it went that way because it gave me a lot of motivation and fire for all those world tournaments because I wanted to show everybody that it was the wrong decision to not take me to the team. Since then I won the World 9-Ball, US Open 9-Ball and was runner-up at the World 10-Ball, which puts me in the pole position for this year’s Mosconi. So yes, it gave me a lot of extra motivation.
“Of course, winning the World 9-Ball and US Open 9-Ball have been highlights of the last year as they are the most prestigious events in the business.”
Filler and captain Chamat have developed a clear understanding, with Chamat in Filler’s corner as the German won this year’s partypoker US Open 9-Ball Championship, which was also staged at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The European captain recently said it was ‘love at first sight’ when he first worked with Filler at the 2017 partypoker Mosconi Cup, and the World No.1 believes their similar personalities helped them strike an instant understanding.
“Well, I guess me and Marcus have a quite similar character,” said Filler. “We both love to show emotion, are laughing all day long, always smiling and he never tried to change me which a lot of people did in the past. He just took me as who I am.
“It’s hard to say what we have to do this year as the team is not completed yet. I think we have to wait until all players are announced and then see what kind and types of players we have got. Marcus is a good and well experienced coach and he will figure the best things out to make us win again. I can just speak for me that I’m really looking forward to the Mosconi Cup and I’m ready to win the Cup back!”
Two more players will automatically qualify to join Filler on Chamat’s team via the Team Europe Ranking List, after which the captain will select his two wildcard players. The full ranking schedule, points breakdown and the table following the recent UK Open, can be found here: http://www.matchroompool.com/mosconi-cup/#teamEurope
Tickets for the 2019 partypoker Mosconi Cup are available now at www.mosconicup.com. Prices start at $48 per session with season tickets at $161 silver. Gold seating is now sold out. VIP Platinum packages are available priced $225 per day or $950 for all four days and include a breakfast buffet, unlimited drinks, VIP seating in the front three rows and much more.
The 2019 partypoker Mosconi Cup is partnered by Rasson Billiards who supplies the Official Table; the cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis and Saluc is the Official Ball Provider. Predator is the Official Cue of the event, Kamui the Official Chalk and Tip and Ultimate Team Gear provide all partypoker Mosconi Cup apparel.
