Mosconi Cup: How a Modest Dream Became Pool’s Greatest Show

Enjoying a beer, contributing to the thunderous decibel level at Ally Pally, savouring pool’s highest profile event, there would seem no earthly link to an epic poem penned in the 14th century.

Yet, those of us who were around for the inaugural staging of the Mosconi Cup in 1994 understand its connection to a famous line written by Geoffrey Chaucer: “From tiny acorns, might oaks grow.”

Far-sighted Barry Hearn must marvel at the scale of the ultimate pool party he launched in Romford, Essex 31 years ago. Even for a dreamer, the Mosconi’s growth from such humble beginnings has been nothing short of astounding.

“The seed for what is now the World Nine-Ball Tour, the whole globalisation of the game, was planted the very first day the Mosconi Cup was transmitted. It all goes back to that,” declares Hearn.

In the 70’s, then working in the fashion business, Hearn played decent standard pool for money on both coasts of the USA. One day he cleaned up at Popular Billiards in San Francisco, the next day he was cleaned out and then some, but a burning passion for the game had been instilled.

Team Europe won its first Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 1985, firmly cementing that biennial golf gathering in the wider sporting consciousness.

Tapping into those vibes, Hearn realised the huge potential for pool’s trans-Atlantic tussle, sowing the seed for today’s great oak in the Manhattan office of Bill Cayton, manager of world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, no less.

Cayton had also held contracts with the pool superstars of yesteryear, Minnesota Fats and Willie Mosconi included.

When Hearn told Cayton he wanted to organise pool’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup, the New York businessman suggested calling it the Mosconi Cup.

“It was only a few months after Willie had passed away,” Hearn recalled. “Bill passed on the telephone number of Willie’s wife, Flora. I rang her there and then, she gave me her blessing, and we were off and running. I remember her saying ‘I think Willie would like that.’”

In those pioneering days, things were very different. Crowds did not exactly pack the Romford Roller Bowl venue. Six men and two women made up the eight player teams. Matches were best of three sets, best of five racks per set.

To help promote the event in a country where Nine-Ball pool was still very much under the radar, Hearn enlisted the help of two snooker stars, Steve Davis and Jimmy White. Ladies green baize great Allison Fisher also represented Europe.

“At the start we were literally scratching around for a venue with the right amount of space. It wasn’t an easy sell, but we stuck at it, and I couldn’t be happier that we did,” said Hearn.

Mosconi Cup 2002

Early editions of the Cup were thoroughly dominated by the Americans: “It was more a showcase, more an exhibition, but it kick-started the evolution of pool and broke the glass ceiling. It took a while longer to explode that I thought but look at it now.”

The inaugural contest saw Sweden’s Tom Storm overcome Bobby Hunter. Germany’s Oliver Ortmann then beat Mark Wilson but that was as good as it got for Europe, who were eventually defeated 16-12 by a USA outfit far from being considered its A-team.

Even though the first nine stagings of the Mosconi Cup were held in and around London, the visitors usually held sway. In fact, the USA, its team growing ever stronger as the tournament prospered, triumphed in ten of the first twelve.

In 2001, USA completed a thumping 12-1 victory. The venue was York Hall, Bethnal Green, most closely associated with boxing. America delivered its Tyson-esque knock-out punch with a day to spare.

Although metaphorically on the ropes, Europe were not out for the count.

After a thrilling 12-12 draw in Rotterdam in 2006, Malta’s Tony Drago was named Most Valuable Player when Europe hit the jackpot in Las Vegas twelve months later.

The MGM Grand produced a grand experience for Europe’s vocal travelling band of supporters as a star-studded American team featuring Earl Strickland, Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Corey Deuel and debutant Shane Van Boening unthinkably lost on home soil.

It was a full circle moment for Hearn and the Mosconi, from little old Romford to lighting up the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World.’

Fittingly, the clinching 9-ball was sunk by Ralf Souquet, the dedicated, decorated German who was there right from the Cup’s inception in 1994.

In all, Souquet made a European record 17 Mosconi appearances, witnessing his continent’s remarkable ascent from plucky underdogs to overwhelming supremacy.

That pivotal 2007 success in the desert heralded in an ongoing barren spell for Team USA, who have now tasted bitter defeat in 15 of the 18 most recent editions of a tournament they once ruled with an iron fist.

From 2010 to 2017, the Europeans came good eight times in a row. This week they are favourites to claim the Cup for the sixth year in succession.

“It has been a 30-year journey and what a ride,” said Hearn, a passionate advocate of pool who is already in training to compete at next year’s UK Open.

“It started with the Europeans getting their arses kicked, then roles reversed. We don’t know what’s going to happen next, apart from continued growth. I personally love the people and the buzz around the game. Pool is in us at Matchroom, and it is deep in me.”

Times change, so does the Mosconi Cup. What began on a very modest scale as one man’s vision for a sport he adored has morphed into something beyond even his wildest expectations.

So, in a quiet moment, if there is one, why not raise a glass to Mr. Hearn.

That’s the greatest showman, who created Nine-Ball’s greatest show.

Phil Yates, Author