It goes without saying that impeccable play is essential but the Mosconi Cup revolves around camaraderie and togetherness within the group. Europe have both of those aspects embedded, making their unchanged team frightening on paper as they eye a fourth title in succession.
It’s a team of champions, all five players know how to win the Mosconi Cup and all five players know how to win major accolades in the Matchroom arena – Francisco Sanchez Ruiz in Atlantic City and Poland, Jayson Shaw in Hanoi, David Alcaide and Albin Ouschan in Fulda and Joshua Filler in London.
Despite their tremendous achievements as individuals on the nineball scene, they never have any headaches or complications when it comes to coming together as a team, especially when competing at Alexandra Palace in front of more than 2,500 passionate European supporters.
However, one unknown for the Europeans is how Germany’s Ralph Eckert will fair on his debut as skipper. Eckert never competed in the Mosconi Cup but follows in the footsteps of the legendary Oliver Ortmann in captaining a star-studded European team after a successful spell from Alex Lely.
Eckert shrewdly selected an unchanged team following his wildcard choices of Joshua Filler and Albin Ouschan, although the German may have a contrasting approach in comparison to his Dutch predecessor and time will tell whether that develops successfully.
Jayson Shaw, the current vice-captain and someone who is promptly becoming a Mosconi Cup legend, has embraced the mantle of energising and banging the drum for the Europeans. Often the ultimate performer on the biggest stage, the Scotsman plays a crucial role behind the scenes in encouraging his teammates.
Embroiled in the sport’s most intense rivalry, Shaw commonly pulls on the Americans’ strings in an attempt to get under their skin. He’s the pantomime villain on the European team, even more so this time around in the aftermath of Fedor Gorst’s decision to switch allegiances and represent the American team.
The Hanoi Open champion never allows that to affect his game and rarely flatters to deceive come December. He’s a two-time MVP, the top European point scorer in four of the last five editions and the Brit biennially comes into his own when the tournament returns to the iconic Alexandra Palace.
Germany’s Filler is another who spreads their wings and flourishes when it comes to the sport’s showpiece spectacle, notably earning the MVP award on debut six years ago and claiming that feat for a second time last year. His poise and precision makes him arguably the most dangerous and destructive player on the planet.
Shaw and Filler have developed into the most influential members of the European team, although world number one Sanchez Ruiz, Alcaide and Ouschan all equally played a part in their team’s success twelve months ago.
Reigning world champion Sanchez Ruiz and European Open winner Alcaide are Europe’s greatest doubles pairing, having won the World Cup of Pool together last year and travelled with one another for more than a decade. Alcaide makes his fifth appearance, seventeen years after his debut, while FSR has his amigo by his side as he makes his Ally Pally debut.
Europe have a tendency to come out of the blocks slowly, with the USA being on a four-year unbeaten run in the teams opener, and the Americans are a force to the reckoned with this year following the additions of Gorst and rookie Shane Wolford.
Nevertheless, the team of champions flourish when they’re under the cosh and the pressure increases. The USA led 5-4 in both 2021 and 2022, although the Europeans still emerged as comfortable winners and it’s difficult to not see that unfolding again.
