Mosconi Cup Captains Set For War of Nerves

WITH THE 2009 PARTYPOKER.NET MOSCONI CUP a little over a week away, Matchroom Sport can announce the format and schedule for play over the four days of the event.

There are a total of 21 matches in place to determine the destination of the famous solid silver trophy and this year there are a few changes in order to allow more players to play more matches. Successful partnerships in the doubles will be one-offs as no pairing can appear more than once.

The onus this year is firmly on the two captains – Alex Lely and Nick Varner – to employ all their experience and plot a strategy that will win their side the Mosconi Cup.

In a complete departure from previous years, Singles Matches 5 & 7 will see the captains decide who plays for the opposition rather than their own teams!

Commented Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn; “In previous years, the captains understandably stuck with the winning partnerships, but for 2009 there will be no place to hide and all ten players will feel the full heat of battle.

“Similarly, everyone will have their nerve tested in singles play, rather than let the in-form experienced players carry the team.

“Picking the other team's man for a couple of games will involve real reverse psychology, so we will see which of the two captains makes the most of it.”

Format and Schedule

(21 matches, race to 6, alternate break, first Team to 11 points)

Thursday December 10

Match 1     Team match (all 5 to play)
Match 2     Doubles match
Match 3     Singles match
Match 4     Doubles match

                  (All players to have played once in Matches 2 - 4)


Match 5     Singles match (Cannot be the same player as Match 3)
            This player is picked by the opponent's captain.


Friday December 11

Match 6     Doubles match
Match 7     Singles match (Cannot be the same player as Matches 3 and 5)
            This player is picked by the opponent's captain.

 

Match 8     Doubles match
                  (All players to have played once in Matches 6 - 8)

 

Match 9     Singles match (Cannot be the same player as Matches 3, 5 and 7)
Match 10   Doubles match

Saturday December 12

Match 11   Doubles match
                  (All players to have played once in Match 9 - 11)

Match 12   Singles match (Must be the player who did not play in Matches 3,5,7 & 9)
Match 13   Doubles match
Match 14   Singles match
Match 15   Singles match
                  (All players to have played once in matches 12 – 15)

Sunday December 13

Match 16   Singles match
Match 17   Singles match
Match 18   Singles match
Match 19   Single match
Match 20   Singles match
                  (All players to have played once in matches 16 – 20)

Match 21   *Singles match

The Captains may not use the same pair twice. There are seven doubles matches and a possible 10 pairings.

There is a 30 second shot clock in operation at all times.

Live in its entirety on Sky Sports in the UK, the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup 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 10-4 lead with one tied match in 2006.

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.