York Hall, Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2

SIX YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT but there is a very strong feeling within European pool that the Mosconi Cup is finally coming home after such a long period of total American domination. Taking place at the fabled York Hall, Bethnal Green from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd December, the Mosconi Cup pits six-man teams from the USA and Europe in what is the world of pool's answer to golf's Ryder Cup.

Televised live by Sky Sports, promoters Matchroom Sport subsequently syndicate the event as 20 one-hour programmes to over 70 countries across the globe.

The American team sees two changes to the side that won last year. Out go the nervy Michael Coltrain and out-of-form Shannon Daulton to be replaced by rising star Charlie Williams and Nick Varner who has twice lifted the Mosconi Cup as captain in 1997 and '98. Earl Strickland will again be in charge of the team and he will be joined by US Open champion Corey Deuel, four-time Mosconi veteran Johnny 'the Scorpion' Archer, and the rock-solid Jeremy 'Double J' Jones.

In the blue corner for the Europeans will be captain Ralf 'the Kaiser' Souquet making his seventh Mosconi Cup appearance. Steve Davis and Steve Knight will be carrying British hopes and back in the team is Marcus Chamat (Sweden) who proved a real hit with the Bethnal Green fans last year. Reigning World Champion Mika 'the Iceman' Immonen of Finland plays and the new kid on the block is the Terminator Niels Feijen (Holland) who has had a fantastic season, winning big money around the world.

Now in its fifth year in East London, the packed, boisterous crowds at the York Hall have always played a part and this year it could be crucial. Commented Euro-skipper Ralf Souquet, " I have played in tournaments all over the world; the United States, Europe and the pool-crazy countries of the Far-East but the atmosphere at the York Hall is quite unbelievable. The crowds are passionate about the game and for players it can be tough. I know of one player whose nerves have been shot to pieces by two appearances at the York Hall. This year, though, we are all confident that it will be a glorious Sunday night for the Europeans and I feel sure that the crowds will play their part."

Once again, tickets for the event are free and available from the York Hall or Matchroom Sport

Team USA

Team EUROPE

The 2001 Mosconi Cup

Dates
Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd December 2001

Venue
York Hall, Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2

Session Times
Thursday Evening - 7.00
Friday Afternoon - 2.00
Friday Evening - 7.00
Saturday Afternoon - 2.00
Saturday Evening - 7.00
Sunday Afternoon - 2.00
Sunday Evening - 7.00

Format
The Mosconi Cup is the best of 23 matches with the first team to reach 12 carrying off the trophy. The matches will be a mix of singles and doubles and each game will be a race to 5 racks, alternate breaks

Ticket Details
All tickets are free and will be available from November 12th in person from the York Hall (0208 980 2243) or from Matchroom Sport (01708 782212) or info@matchroomsport.com

Television
The event will live for in excess of 21 hours on Sky Sports in the UK. In addition the Mosconi Cup will be packaged and syndicated by Matchroom Sport around the world.

The Playing Schedule

In addition our host broadcaster Sky Sports 2 & 3 will be airing over 23 hours live

1994 Rollerbowl, Romford

USA 16 - 12 EUROPE
Ralf Souquet (Germany), Steve Davis (UK), Lee Tucker (UK), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Tom Storm (Sweden), Jimmy White (UK), Franziska Stark (Germany), Allison Fisher (UK)

Lou Butera, Paul Gerni, Bobby Hunter, Dallas West, Mark Wilson, Mike Gulyassy, Jeanette Lee, Vivian Villarreal

1995 Festival Hall, Basildon

EUROPE 16 - 15 USA
Daryl Peach (UK), Steve Davis (UK), Alex Higgins (UK), Lee Kendall (UK), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Tom Storm (Sweden), Jimmy White (UK)

Lou Butera, Mike Massey, Robert Hunter, Dallas West, Mark Wilson, Mike Gulyassy, John DiToro

1996 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham

USA 15 - 13 EUROPE
Steve Davis (UK), Vincent Facquet (France), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Oliver Ortmann, (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ronnie O'Sullivan (UK), Andy Richardson (UK)

Earl Strickland, Mike Massey, CJ Wiley, Roger Griffis, Shannon Daulton, Allen Hopkins, Danny Harriman

1997 York Hall, Bethnal Green

USA 13 - 8 EUROPE
Steve Davis (UK), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ronnie O'Sullivan (UK), Tommy Donlon (UK)

Earl Strickland, Kim Davenport, Johnny Archer, Jim Rempe, Nick Varner, Reed Pierce

1998 York Hall, Bethnal Green

USA 13 - 9 EUROPE
Ralf Souquet (Germany), Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Steve Davis (UK), Fabio Petroni (Italy)

Kim Davenport, Johnny Archer, Earl Strickland, Reed Pierce, Nick Varner, Jim Rempe

1999 York Hall, Bethnal Green

USA 12 - 7 EUROPE
Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Alex Lely (Holland), Oliver Ortmann (Germany), Steve Davis (UK)

Johnny Archer, Kim Davenport, Jeremy Jones, Jim Rempe, Earl Strickland, Michael Coltrain

2000 York Hall, Bethnal Green

USA 12 - 9 EUROPE
Steve Knight (UK), Mika Immonen (Finland), Ralf Souquet (Germany), Thomas Engert (Germany), Marcus Chamat (Sweden), Steve Davis (UK)

Johnny Archer, Shannon Daulton, Jeremy Jones, Corey Deuel, Earl Strickland, Michael Coltrain

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