EUROPE EXTEND COMMANDING LEAD AS USA FINALLY BREAK THROUGH | 2025 SPORTSBET.IO MOSCONI CUP
Team Europe continued their relentless march on Day Two of the 2025 Sportsbet.io Mosconi Cup, winning two of the three matches to extend their lead, while Skyler Woodward and Shane Van Boening finally put Team USA on the board with a much-needed point.
In partnership with Sportsbet.io, the 32nd edition of Mosconi Cup takes place at the iconic Alexandra Palace from 3-6 December, where Team Europe are set to defend their title on home soil against Team USA, with coverage live on Sky Sports in the UK and WNT TV in the USA.
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Day Two Result
Team Europe 6 – 1 USA
European captain Jayson Shaw said: “Delighted to win the session again. We’re 6–1 up and more than halfway there, so now it’s about staying focused and finishing the job. Tomorrow is going to be electric—a full house in here—and I’m looking forward to that support.”
Reflecting on the USA’s first point of the tournament, Skyler Woodward said: “Definitely a better night than yesterday to get on the board. You’ve got to win one to win 11—we’ve now started. We’re still fighting, and we’ll fight to the end no matter what.”
Match One
Team Europe 5 – 4 Team USA
Van Boening struck first after a fierce safety battle with Shaw, and World No.1 Gorst followed with a clinical break and run to give USA an early two-rack lead. Neuhausen responded with a break and run of his own, but Styer countered to restore the Americans’ cushion at 3–1.
Thorpe’s failed bank allowed Labutis to close the gap, before Van Boening once again edged Shaw to put USA on the hill at 4–2.
Filler broke and ran to keep Europe alive, and Neuhausen capitalised on Woodward’s failed safety to force hill-hill. A dry break from Alcaide looked set to hand Styer the winning chance—but a missed bank on the 9-ball allowed Alcaide to steal the rack and secure Europe a dramatic comeback victory.
Match Two
Joshua Filler 5 – 3 Fedor Gorst
Filler came flying out of the gate, storming to a 3–0 lead over the World No.1 before Gorst responded with two composed racks to narrow the deficit. Filler reached the hill in the following rack, but Gorst was gifted a golden break to make it 4–3. The comeback stopped there, however, as Gorst’s failed safety opened the door for Filler to clear and extend Europe’s commanding overall lead.
Filler said: “Happy to get the win against Fedor—he’s a phenomenal player, so I’m proud of that result. We wanted another session sweep, but taking the session win and getting an early night feels great. I’m enjoying being back out in front of these European fans and appreciate all their support.”
Match Three
Jayson Shaw & Joshua Filler x – Skyler Woodward & Shane Van Boening
After Shaw and Filler took the opening rack, the American pair produced their best pool of the tournament, stringing together four racks to reach the hill and put Europe under serious pressure. A sharp safety from Filler gave Europe a lifeline to make it 4–2, but a miss from Shaw in the next rack handed USA the chance they needed, and Woodward–Van Boening duly converted to claim their first point.
Van Boening said: “It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad we got the point. I felt like I played almost perfect. Skyler had my back in that match—he’s been a solid teammate. Today’s results might not fully show it, but USA played better, and I believe there’s still hope. Despite a couple of mistakes, we’re improving.”
Day Two also saw Barry Hearn OBE in attendance, who reflected on this year’s event: “All credit to team Europe. I think what we are seeing is hard-match players coming out of the European circuit. They’re playing on the World Nineball Tour, they are playing everything. These guys are not going to give them anything, they are not going to give them room to breathe.
It’s gone from strength to strength, it started in tenpin bowling allies in Romford and Basildon Festival Hall, and now it’s a global event. It’s got that magic of US v Europe.”
With Team USA finally on the board, the question now is whether momentum has begun to shift. Can the Americans ignite the comeback they desperately need, or will Europe continue their dominant charge toward another decisive victory?
The action continues tomorrow, 5 December, live from a packed-out Alexandra Palace at 6:30pm GMT.
