第29屆莫斯考尼盃於今晨在美國拉斯維加斯登場。歐洲隊尋求自2018年後能再次捧起冠軍獎座，而美國隊則希望在主場2,500現場觀眾的加油喧囂將獎盃留下來。
首日比賽中的第一場團體賽由美國隊 5-3 擊敗歐洲隊，率先拿下第一分。第二場雙打賽，美國隊派出雙雙重返莫斯考尼盃的 Oscar Dominguez 與 Earl Strickland 搭檔，歐洲隊則由拿下今年雙打世界盃冠軍的 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz 與 David Alcaide 應戰。Sanchez Ruiz 在他的莫斯考尼盃初登場中找到了自己的最佳狀態，最終在老大哥 Alcaide 的帶領下，以 5-1 橫掃美國隊，也為歐洲隊扳平比數 (1-1)。
第三場單打由 Skyler Woodward 對上 Joshua Filler。Woodward 在第三局打丟9號球，留下一記中長距離給 Filler，Filler 取得 2-1 領先。Woodward 隨後在第6局打進一記精彩的2-9組合球，不僅將功補過也將比數追平 (3-3)。第8局 Woodward 衝球後，幸運地黃金九號球 (9號球被母球碰進了)，再次扳平比分 (4-4) 並進入搶尾局。最終 Woodward 以 5-4 戰勝 Filler，讓美國隊再次取得領先。
最後一場雙打則由 Shane Van Boening 和 Tyler Styer 出戰 Jayson Shaw 與 Albin Ouschan 的組合。比賽同樣進入到決勝局，最終 SVB 與 Styer 的組合 5-4 擊敗 Shaw 與 Ouschan ，美國隊首日結束以 3-1 領先歐洲隊。第二日賽程將於台北時間凌晨3點 (12月2日) 在博斯無限二台進行直播。
©Taka G Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
Team USA took Day 1 of the 2022 Mosconi Cup 3-1 against Team Europe to a raucous 2,500 strong crowd at Bally’s Las Vegas live on Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in the USA, Canada, Italy, and Spain, Viaplay in the Baltics, Scandinavia and Poland and networks worldwide.
Team USA 3-1 Team Europe
Team USA 5-3 Team Europe
Oscar Dominguez / Earl Strickland 1-5 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz / David Alcaide
Skyler Woodward 5-4 Joshua Filler
Shane Van Boening / Tyler Styer 5-4 Jayson Shaw / Albin Ouschan
©Taka G Wu/Matchroom Multi SportTeam Europe went into the team match looking to taste victory in the cup’s curtain-raiser for the first time since 2018 whilst the USA was hoping for the home crowd to bring the noise and they certainly did with an inspired opening point 5-3.
Match two was the first sight of Earl Strickland and Oscar Dominguez who were making their returns to Jeremy Jones‘ USA side and it was going to be a tall order with World Cup of Pool winners Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide getting their first taste of the action. Strickland and Dominguez had opportunities against the Spanish duo, but they proved too strong as Sanchez Ruiz found his groove in his first-ever Mosconi Cup with Alcaide guiding him through to an impressive 5-1 victory.
©Taka G Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
The crowd was baying for more from their USA side, and it came as playing vice-captain Skyler Woodward stepped up to face Joshua Filler. Woodward got out the blocks quickly before Filler reached the hill first at 4-3 but with alternate break Woodward had a chance to level up with a consistent eighth rack. The Blue Grass Bad Ass got more than he would’ve wanted with a golden break to make it the first hill-hill of the week. Some acute safety play started the ninth rack before it looked like Filler would have his moment only for the one to brush the three when pocket bound. That allowed Woodward up to take the roof off and deliver a second USA point of the day.
Momentum had swung in the USA’s favour, and they ensured they’d head into day two with a two-point cushion thanks to world champion Shane Van Boening and Tyler Styer who defeated Albin Ouschan and Jayson Shaw in another hill-hill thriller to conclude day one.
©Taka G Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
Man of the moment Woodward spoke on Off the Rail after the conclusion of the day: “It’s never easy playing Joshua. You must try and take advantage of every mistake even though I did miss the nine one day. I told myself to keep fighting and pushing and take chances where I can. I told the team; I wanted all the pressure on me. I like the pressure. Me winning that match takes the pressure off them ahead of the last match. There was a little pressure off them. They came out loose and I am glad I could get out there and get that point for the USA. The table is tight. The side pockets are unbelievable. They’re crazy. I like it. The side pockets are genius. They’re so tough. It’s how top-level pool should be.”
Tomorrow kicks off with the Fans’ Choice Singles Match before four more matches on day two of the 2022 Mosconi Cup. Voting is open until 10 pm local time for the Fans’ Choice match. Vote here.
Watch
Can’t make it to the 2022 Mosconi Cup? Watch the action wherever you are in the world. Broadcasters below. If you do not see a broadcaster in your country, you can watch on Matchroom.Live
- Sky Sports UK & Ireland
- AMC Network Hungary
- Dazn Brazil, Canada, Italy, Spain, USA
- Fox Sports Australia
- Mena SSC
- Nova Czech Republic and Slovakia
- Saran Sport Turkey
- Singtel Singapore
- Sportklub Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia
- Sportscast Indonesia & Chinese Taipei
- Supersport South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tap Philippines
- Viaplay Baltics, Iceland, Poland, Scandinavia
- Vietcontent Vietna
- Ziggo Sport Netherlands