Europe dominated proceedings on day one of the Mosconi Cup.
It was a clean sweep and 4-0 lead for Europe after day one.
That wasn’t the only whitewash, though.
Joshua Filler whitewashed Skyler Woodward 5-0 in the only singles match of day one.
The last singles whitewash at the Mosconi Cup? Joshua Filler 5-0 Skyler Woodward in 2020.
Speaking yesterday, Sanchez Ruiz told Sky Sports: “I feel very excited, today was an amazing day for Team Europe. I’m very very happy!”
Team-mate Alcaide added: “It’s really special doing it together. It’s always an honour.”
The respective captains of Team Europe and Team USA selected five players to compete in the tournament ahead of yesterday's opening.
Day one of the Mosconi Cup consisted of two doubles matches and one singles match.
Today and tomorrow's action will include two doubles and three singles matches.
After that first day demolition job, Europe have been smashed in by the bookmakers.
They now go 1/16 that Europe wins the Mosconi Cup 2023.
Team USA have a mountain to climb, as reflected by the odds from Bet365.
The 2023 Mosconi Cup has a total prize pot of $370,000.
Each runner-up will get a tidy sum of $20,000.
Meanwhile, the winners will get $40,000 per player.
The most obvious difference is the tables that the sports are played on.
American pool tables have far bigger pockets, while British pool tables have smaller, tighter pockets.
American pool is played with bigger balls, including a cue ball which is the same size as that used in a game of snooker.
British pool is played with a cue ball which is smaller than the object balls you would play with during the game.
Moscow-born Fedor Gorst will be representing TEAM USA this year, having recently had his permanent residency approved.
Gorst was sitting SECOND in Europe’s Race to the Mosconi Cup standings prior to his switch and won the World Nine-ball Championship in 2019.
It will be fascinating to see the reception he gets….
He said: “Since I moved to the USA in February of last year, I’ve been welcomed with open arms everywhere I’ve been.
“The people of America have treated me like one of their own. I have felt this for months, and especially with the support I received at the US Open. I felt like I was truly home.
“For that reason as well as my recent approval for permanent residency, I’m so excited to represent the red, white and blue of the USA across WNT events as well as Team USA at the Mosconi Cup.”
Europe have the advantage in the historic title wins, scooping two more victories than USA.
The 2006 edition finished in a 12-12, so USA retained the trophy.
Here’s the record:
Team Europe Mosconi Cup wins: 15* (1995, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022).
Team USA Mosconi Cup wins: 13 (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2018, 2019).
The line-up for the two teams competing this week
Team Europe
Team USA
Team Europe won the lot last night and lead 4-0 after day one.
And it was a very good evening for Team Europe last night to kick off their defence of the Mosconi Cup.
Team Europe won the team match that kicked things off, before the pairing of Shaw and Ouschan clinched a 5-2 win.
Joshua Filler stole the show with a whitewash on his way to beating Team USA star 5-0.
The Spanish pair of Alcaide and Sanchez Ruiz then clinched a 5-3 win in the final match to complete a perfect night.
They only need 11 points to claim the Mosconi Cup and clinched 4 on the opening night!
There was a golden break in the team match that opened yesterday's proceedings.
Here was that break and the celebrations that followed!
After that first day demolition job, Europe have been smashed in by the bookmakers.
They now go 1/16 that Europe wins the Mosconi Cup 2023.
Team USA have a mountain to climb, as reflected by the odds from Bet365.
It was a clean sweep and 4-0 lead for Europe after day one.
That wasn't the only whitewash, though.
Joshua Filler whitewashed Skyler Woodward 5-0 in the only singles match of day one.
The last singles whitewash at the Mosconi Cup? Joshua Filler 5-0 Skyler Woodward in 2020.
A stellar day for Team Europe - who couldn't have wished for a better start to this.
They win all four matches on day one to take a clean sweep on day one.
Where do they Americans go from here? It can't get any worse at least!
They have it all to do over the remainder of the week....
Sanchez Ruiz told Sky Sports: “I feel very excited, today was an amazing day for Team Europe. I’m very very happy!”
Team-mate Alcaide adds: “It’s really special doing it together. It’s always an honour.”
HUGE CELEBRATIONS AS EUROPE WIN MATCH 4 BY 5-3.
Incredible day one - Europe have won the lot on day one!
They've knocked in 7 and 8 with ease.
World number one Sanchez Ruiz just needs to roll in the 9, but it's not been left easy for him....
The 1 and 6 balls go with the Alcaide break and Sanchez Ruiz judges the backspin after potting the 2 to absolute perfection.
They're six shots away now.
6, 7, 8 and 9 follow in.
Gorst sinks the winner which takes a kiss off the jaws as it is powered in.
Wolford gives his playing partner a hug after that one as the pair share a wry smile.
Europe to break - for the match....
Team USA from the break and the 1 ball goes.
It's fairly open here and a quick chat between them suggests they fancy this rack quite comfortably.
It starts that way as 2, 3, 4 and 5 go without any fuss.
As easy as it looked after that break.
The Spaniards mop up with consummate with Alcaide sinking the winning pot.
Jayson Shaw is first down to congratulate them opening their two-rack lead once more.
One more for the European clean sweep on day one!
An open table and 1 ball potted at the side, typical Sanchez Ruiz break.
He sends two balls down with that one and the balls are positioned in a way that good cue ball control should see them wrap this rack up.