Europe return to London’s iconic Alexandra Palace as they renew rivalries with the USA, setting their sights on winning a sixth straight Mosconi Cup title.
In what has turned into an overwhelming dominance, Europe could secure the bragging rights for the 14th time in 16 years, with three of those titles coming at Alexandra Palace.
Playing captain Jayson Shaw leads a changed team into battle, with the experience of himself, Joshua Filler and David Alcaide lining up alongside rookies Moritz Neuhausen and Pijus Labutis.
Jayson Shaw
WNT ranking: 16
FargoRate: 835
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $50,350
Mosconi Cup experience: Nine appearances (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Overall: 36-22
Singles: 16-6
Doubles: 15-10
Jayson Shaw has been a mainstay on the European team since making his debut nine years ago, and the Scotsman could make history this year in terms of equaling Niels Feijen’s record of eight Mosconi Cup wins as well as his four MVP awards.
Former US Open champion Shaw is the invigorating figure in the European ranks and the catalyst behind their dominance in recent years. In addition, he has staggeringly won nine of his last ten singles matches at the Mosconi Cup.
Joshua Filler
WNT ranking: 5
FargoRate: 857
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $88,450
Mosconi Cup experience: Six appearances (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 24-12
Singles: 12-4
Doubles: 10-4
Joshua Filler needs no explanation. Him and the Mosconi Cup are a match made in heaven, and that was evident from the beginning. Filler enjoyed an invincible debut eight years ago, winning all five points and receiving his first of three MVP awards.
Filler has been Europe’s top points scorer in both of his last two appearances, having been snubbed from the team last year due to political reasons. His European Open success in Bosnia and Herzegovina back in March was enough to seal his return to the team via the rankings.
He has won two-thirds of the career points he’s played – the best record on this year’s team, and getting the better of Filler in front of his adoring Alexandra Palace crowd is an ominous task for anyone.
Moritz Neuhausen
WNT ranking: 8
FargoRate: 819
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $108,050
Mosconi Cup experience: Debut
Overall: 0-0
Singles: 0-0
Doubles: 0-0
One of two rookies on this year’s European roster, German youngster Moritz Neuhausen recently represented the Rest of the World in their heavy Reyes Cup defeat to Asia. That experience in a team environment could prove beneficial to the 22-year-old as he enters the lion’s den.
Neuhausen thoroughly deserved his spot on the team, winning Premier League and Peri Open titles as well as reaching the Hanoi Open final. The Premier League predominantly consisted of race-to-five, alternate break matches – the same format used in the Mosconi Cup.
In 2023, Neuhausen reached the World Cup of Pool final alongside teammate Joshua Filler, and Neuhausen and Filler were subsequently crowned world teams champions. Having Filler alongside him at Ally Pally could help settle the nerves.
Pijus Labutis
WNT ranking: 7
FargoRate: 812
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $95,150
Mosconi Cup experience: Debut
Overall: 0-0
Singles: 0-0
Doubles: 0-0
Pijus Labutis has been knocking on the door of the European team for the past two or three years, and the 28-year-old from Lithuania now makes history as the first Baltic player to feature at the Mosconi Cup.
His elusive Hanoi Open victory two months ago sealed his Alexandra Palace bow following three defeats in major semi-finals. Labutis has evolved into one of the World Nineball Tour’s most consistent performers, and he now has an opportunity to showcase his talent on the greatest stage the sport has to offer.
David Alcaide
WNT ranking: 9
FargoRate: 817
Race to Mosconi Cup earnings: $69,200
Mosconi Cup experience: Six appearances (2006, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Overall: 22-12
Singles: 7-1
Doubles: 11-4
An incredible Philippines Open triumph in October earned David Alcaide a fourth consecutive appearance on the European team. His victory in Quezon City was his fourth major accolade, coming eight years after a World Masters win which ended his 11-year wait for a place on the team.
Spain’s Alcaide has quietly become an integral part of Europe’s team and boasts an impressive Mosconi Cup record, having notably won seven of his eight singles matches. The 46-year-old’s only singles defeat came in 2006, when his 5-2 loss to Corey Deuel meant that the cup ended in a tie for the only time.
