Mosconi Cup Format
-
Adam DeMaule
The Mosconi Cup 2023 was filled with excitement and many great moments, especially for Team Europe who dominated the event with a commanding 11-3 final victory and a fourth straight victory. Team Europe were the a heavy favorite going into the event, with all 5 of their team ranked inside the World Nineball Top 10, now that’s pretty special!
There were stand out performances all by Team Europe of course, with the pick going to Albin Ouschan who barely missed a shot the entire tournament and David Alcaide who both went undefeated securing a total of 6 points for Team Europe, 3 points each (plus they got another point together in the Team event) so 7 total points!!
After Day 1 Team Europe carved out a big hole for Team USA to have to try and dig out of with a near flawless performance totally whitewashing the session with a 4-0 match point win. Team Europe finished the session with 20 wins to Team USA’s 10. This included a 5-0 Filler win over Woodward.
A great first day for the home side in front of a very boisterous home crowd.
DAY 1 EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
As the event concluded on Day 2 Team Europe extended the lead to 7-1 (Europe now only needing 4 more points to win the cup). After Day 2 I couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t a better format for this type of competition. In part because on Day 2 Gorst for Team USA played in 3 of the matches (winning just 1 point). Gorst played 2 singles matches (back to back which he lost in both) and then played in a third doubles match which they (Gorst & Van Boening) won on the hill, 3 matches all played in a row! I thought – Is this really the best format for the players, the spectators, the tv viewers, sponsors and advertisers?
DAY 2 EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
When Day 3 rolled around and there were only 3 matches scheduled (a side note it was actually difficult to find the events format, it just wasn’t readily available), I couldn’t help but think just 3 matches on the Saturday (which is a big TV day) was done on purpose, as the score starting the day was 7-1, meaning the event couldn’t be won on Day 3 with only 3 matches. After Day 3 Europe again won the session 2-1, finishing in a commanding 9-2 position, needing just 2 points to win the cup on the final day. On Day 3 it was all Jayson Shaw, he played in all 3 matches, if not for the incredible play by Woodward and Gorst in the final rubber of the day where Team USA secured their only point of the day (with a 5-2 win), he would have been undefeated on Day 3. Again I thought is this the best format? Shaw played all 3 matches?
After 3 days of competition there had only been 11 matches played in a race to 11! That included a Team Match to start the event (which as a TV viewer was very exciting to watch and something I’m sure everyone would like to see more of during the event, as it’s great to see the responses and facial expressions from the teams all lined up around the table).
Of the 11 total matches played at the end of Day 3 there were 5 singles matches, 5 doubles matches and the Team Event. Interestingly Filler for Europe played 3 of those singles matches (winning 2) and Shane Van Boening for Team USA had not played a singles match yet? Of the 5 singles matches played the fans had not seen the World Number 2 play one of them? I really decided that as a fan and spectator there has to be a better format.
DAY 3 EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
Day 4 rolled around and Filler strolled out again in the first match, you figured this could be a short day for team USA, but finally Van Boening stepped in and played probably the very best match (maybe of any match in the tournament) to take another singles win away from Filler (5-2) it was great to see Van Boening play like the all time great he is.
In match 2 of Day 4 Filler stepped out again this time with Ouschan and they closed out any glimmer of hope Team USA had with a commanding 5-3 win to put Team Europe on the hill.
The final match of the tournament was a classic, a hill-hill battle between the two number 5’s on each team, Alcaide (#9) and Wolford (#43), it was a very good match with Alcaide getting a final roll of Europe luck as Woldford scratched late leaving an easy 8-9 run out and Europe won.
Team Europe finished the Victor with an 11-3 final result.
The Results of the 2023 Mosconi Cup
| # | TEAM EUROPE | SGLES | WIN | LOSS | DBLES | WIN | LOSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanchez Ruiz (#1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Shaw (#5) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Filler (#6) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Ouschan (#7) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Alcaide (#9) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| # | TEAM USA | SGLES | WIN | LOSS | DBLES | WIN | LOSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Van Boening (2) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Gorst (3) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Woodward (12) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Styer (41) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Wolford (43) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
* NB – Plus all players played in the Team Event won by Team Europe
DAY 4 EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
What is the best format for Mosconi Cup?
A look back into the archives of the event in the early days of Mosconi Cup the event was played over 8 sessions, with multiple frames per match. In 1994 the inaugural, Team USA won 16-12. In 1995 Team Europe won 16-15 which went down to a tiebreaker match where Jimmy White beat Lou Butera (4-2), wow what a Cup that must have been!
Understanding the time concerns, scheduling and packing in as many games into the event as possible isn’t always the best formats, and very difficult for TV. People paying to watch the event especially live do deserve a better more complete experience, not that the Team Europe crowd didn’t look to have a great time, of course they did, they were singing and cheering, and dancing and everything else, as they were winning! Even the USA team fans looked to have a good time too, I did think at one stage that the Europe fans were actually cheering on Team USA, maybe so they could see more pool, drink some more and cheer on their pool idols. The event just left me wondering Is this the best format for a Mosconi Cup?
Here’s a new take on at a better Mosconi Cup Format –
- 4 Days of Guaranteed Play
- 20 Total matches played with a 21st match Tiebreaker if needed
- 5 Players per team (Ranked from number 1 to number 5)
- 10 Total Singles Matches
- 7 Scotch Doubles Matches
- 3 Team Matches (and a possible 4th!) A Tie Breaker
- IF REQ’D played as a TEAM MATCH – and what a finish that would be if it happened!!
The idea of having all 20 matches played ensures a :
- Better live spectator experience
- Better TV CoverageBetter opportunities for sponsors
- Better opportunity for advertisers
- Guaranteed Ticket Sales for 4 Days
- Format where all players play each day
- Better all round event
- Way to open early betting markets on the matches
- Opportunity to really grow the prize pool for players!
In order to make this format of 20 Mosconi Cup matches over 4 days work you would need to introduce a winning and losing prize money share for each match played.
Where you have say:
- $10,000 per match to the winner
- $5,000 per match to the loser
Then add the final bonus prize pools for winning the tournament and a prize for losing too:
- $75,000 Bonus to the winning team
- $25,000 Bonus to the losing team
That’s $400,000 in total prize money and that’s just the beginning for this event!
In the table below are the prize money break downs from a 20-0 drubbing all the way to an epic 11-10 win where each winning player would win $45,000 and each losing player $35,000! The more matches you win the more each team player pockets. Now which player wouldn’t want to carry on the tournament even if the Cup had been won and win more money? Correct none!?
Mosconi Cup Prize Money (All 20 matches played)
| W | L | WIN PRIZE | LOSS PRIZE | PLAYER WIN $ | PLAYER LOSS $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 0 | $275,000 | $125,000 | $55,000 | $25,000 |
| 19 | 1 | $270,000 | $130,000 | $54,000 | $26,000 |
| 18 | 2 | $265,000 | $135,000 | $53,000 | $27,000 |
| 17 | 3 | $260,000 | $140,000 | $52,000 | $28,000 |
| 16 | 4 | $255,000 | $145,000 | $51,000 | $29,000 |
| 15 | 5 | $250,000 | $150,000 | $50,000 | $30,000 |
| 14 | 6 | $245,000 | $155,000 | $49,000 | $31,000 |
| 13 | 7 | $240,000 | $160,000 | $48,000 | $32,000 |
| 12 | 8 | $235,000 | $165,000 | $47,000 | $33,000 |
| 11 | 9 | $230,000 | $170,000 | $46,000 | $34,000 |
| 10 | 10 | $225,000 | $175,000 | $45,000 | $35,000 |
The 2023 Mosconi Cup had $370,000. I’m positive that Matchroom Pool could find a way to up the prize money in 2024 to $400,000 and with a revamped improved format that guarantees all matches are played there’s more chance the advertisers will make this happen. Along with the opportunity to really grow that prize pool for the winners in the future. Im sure the players would like to be playing for bigger dollars each and every year too!
Ok, say this would work, what would happen when a team reaches the 11 win mark? Well, they’ve won the cup of course, same as now, the difference is the players keep playing all matches as there’s more potential prize money to be won if you keep on winning!!
In the 2023 Mosconi Cup Team Europe won 11-3, in this new proposed Mosconi Cup format you would still have 6 matches left to be played, now let’s say Team Europe who were dominating the event went on to win 4 of the last 6 matches and finish with 4-2 the final score would be Team Europe would win the Cup 15-5. As far as adopting a better payoff result for winning more matches (which is what the players want) this would mean that with $10,000 for each win Team Europe would have ended up winning a total of $250,000 (or $50,000 per player) and Team USA $150,000 (or $30,000 per player). That’s a better result for both teams!!
Improving the Mosconi Cup Format
The 2023 Mosconi Cup lacked consistency in who played who, why and when. In this proposed format you have the players ranked (on world ranking points) from Number 1 to Number 5 on each team. This 5 match format each day also guarantees that the fans get to see the best players play each other in singles, scotch doubles and the very enjoyable team formats.
Then the final day is left for the Captains to select who plays who in the 5 key singles matches. Then if the event is close, which I’m sure USA are going to find a way to be better and make that happen in the future, you get a classic one on one battle on the final day.
Here’s a 4 Day Mosconi Cup format (all matches Race to 5):
| DAY 1 | FORMAT | MATCH |
|---|---|---|
| MATCH 1 | TEAM | Team EU vs Team USA |
| MATCH 2 | DOUBLES | EU 3/4 vs USA 3/4 |
| MATCH 3 | SINGLES | EU 5 vs USA 5 |
| MATCH 4 | SINGLES | EU 2 vs USA 2 |
| MATCH 5 | SINGLES | EU 1 vs USA 1 |
| DAY 2 | FORMAT | MATCH |
|---|---|---|
| MATCH 6 | DOUBLES | EU 3/5 vs USA 3/5 |
| MATCH 7 | SINGLES | EU 4 vs USA 4 |
| MATCH 8 | SINGLES | EU 3 vs USA 3 |
| MATCH 9 | DOUBLES | EU 1/2 vs USA 1/2 |
| MATCH 10 | TEAM | Team EU vs Team USA |
| DAY 3 | FORMAT | MATCH |
|---|---|---|
| MATCH 11 | DOUBLES | EU 1/4 vs USA 1/4 |
| MATCH 12 | DOUBLES | EU 2/5 vs USA 2/5 |
| MATCH 13 | DOUBLES | EU 1/3 vs USA 1/3 |
| MATCH 14 | DOUBLES | EU 2/4 vs USA 2/4 |
| MATCH 15 | TEAM | Team EU vs Team USA |
| DAY 4 | FORMAT | MATCH |
|---|---|---|
| MATCH 16 | SINGLES | EU PICK vs USA PICK |
| MATCH 17 | SINGLES | EU PICK vs USA PICK |
| MATCH 18 | SINGLES | EU PICK vs USA PICK |
| MATCH 19 | SINGLES | EU PICK vs USA PICK |
| MATCH 20 | SINGLES | EU PICK vs USA PICK |
| TIEBREAKER | FORMAT | MATCH |
|---|---|---|
| MATCH 21 | TEAM | Team EU vs Tean USA (IF REQD) |
What this format offers is a very interesting mix of matches and one I believe both the players and the fans would really enjoy. Firstly it guarantees all 20 matches are played to the end of the tournament. It also has the potential for an epic conclusion if the teams are tied at 10 matches all. The idea of finishing a tough competition like the Mosconi Cup with the Captains selecting a player to face off against each other in any amount of games, really? Is that the best possible conclusion?
The other interesting outcome of a better Mosconi Cup format is that as a fan you know who is going to play who over the 1st 3 days of competition, all the matches are set, there is a fair and balanced amount of singles and doubles events. You also get to pair off the Top 1 to 5 players against each other early in the tournament, which everyone wants to see. As a punter it also allows the Betting Agencies like (Duelbits – the main sponsor) to open betting markets early on in the event and that would create some interesting opportunities for punters!
Other interesting points in this new format, the Event Opens with a Team Match, which is great, and then on Day 2 and Day 3 the sessions close with a Team Match. What could be better than that? This way you have all the players at the table to close Day 2 and Day 3. That would make for some fantastic viewing.
Also, on Day 3 it’s all about team play, with 4 scotch doubles matches and the closing Team Match. What a day that would be!
On Day 4 it’s all about Singles play, with the Captains making the selections on who plays who from Match 16 down to Match 20. This creates some very interesting possibilities if the event is both close or even little out of reach, in terms of who wins the Cup, or how you play to finish out the final day.
Then finally, the Tie Breaker (if needed) would be in the Team Format, which really puts all players that got the Cup to a 10-10 tie in a position to win (or lose) the Cup, in this ultra exciting pressure cooker of a finish in a Mosconi Cup Tiebreaker. Just think about how epic that would be for the fans, and how much pressure there would be on each player on both teams!
The Future of the Mosconi Cup
The Mosconi Cup 2023 was a great event and Congratulations to Team Europe on a totally dominant performance. The event was well run and there are a lot of people that should be proud of how the event was managed so congratulations to all that helped make the event happen. To the fans, where would the event be with out the crowd, and what a crowd it was, so much fun and an event Im sure most pool fans will mark on their calendars for the future.
To wrap up as a true fan I’d like to think the future of the Mosconi Cup couldn’t be more exciting. I’d also like to think that it would be possible to have this event played for $1 million or more sometime soon and a new more exciting format is what might just be needed to make this happen. Let’s hope the players and matchroom pool get together and work on improving this excellent competition.
Whether the format is the same or different I’ll still be a fan!
30 years strong and a lot more to come!
TEAM EUROPE 2023 Mosconi Cup Winners
PHOTO CREDITS from > Matchroom Pool
VIDEO on youtube from > @MatchroomPool1
Main sponsors link – Duelbits > Visit the Duelbits Site
