With the annual Mosconi Cup USA v Europe 9-ball clash set to take place at the historic Cruise Terminal, Rotterdam, Holland in December, promoters Matchroom Sport can announce the two sides to contest the 13th running of pool's biggest team event.
The two teams march into battle from 7 - 10 December over four passionate days of singles, doubles and trebles play in an event broadcast live throughout on Sky Sports in the UK and SBS6 and Sport 1 in Holland and on delay by Fox Net in the States.
Team USA are once again defending champions in an event they have dominated in recent years, including a comfortable defence in Las Vegas last time out.
There are five players named for each side with the sixth member being decided after the 2006 Philippines World Pool Championship which takes place from 4-12 November.
This is in the event of an unnamed player doing well enough in the WPC to warrant Mosconi Cup inclusion.
There is one debutant on the American side as Mike Davis, following a couple of near misses, finally gets his chance.
Corey Deuel, who recorded 9 wins from 13 matches from 2000-2002, returns to the fray, whilst Archer, Morris and Strickland have superlative records in the event.
The five players selected are:
Johnny Archer (Georgia)
Rodney Morris (Hawaii)
Earl Strickland (North Carolina)
Mike Davis (Maryland)
Corey Deuel (Ohio)
For the Europeans there are wholesale changes to the side that capitulated in Las Vegas in December last year.
Only Mika Immonen remains and he will be joined by the German pairing of Ralf Souquet, returning to Mosconi Cup duty following a three year absence, and European No.1 Thomas Engert
Nick van den Berg (Holland) and debutant Imran Majid of England get in following impressive years on the EuroTour.
The five players selected are:
Mika Immonen (Finland)
Imran Majid (England)
Ralf Souquet (Germany)
Thomas Engert (Germany)
Nick van den Berg (Holland)
Barry Hearn, Chairman of promoters Matchroom Sport, said "I believe we have the best players from each side of the pond contesting the Mosconi Cup this year.
"There are a lot of great players out there but we have looked closely at the various rankings as well as individual performances throughout the year and we're all looking forward to what promises to be another classic Mosconi Cup."
This is the 13th running of pool's answer to the Ryder Cup and the current score stands at 10 - 2 to the Americans.
The official sponsors of the 2006 Mosconi Cup are Brunswick Tables, Simonis Cloth, Super Aramith Pro Balls and Predator Cues.
