Confident Strickland taunts Europe
CONTROVERSIAL American Earl Strickland taunted his 2008 PartyPoker.com Mosconi Cup opponents by declaring he could 'beat the Europeans single-handed'.
The competition, which features five-men teams from Europe and the USA battling it out over four days of intense, dramatic pool, starts later today with all the action screened live in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports Xtra.
Strickland was part of the American team that suffered a shock defeat last year and he insists he will gain revenge in 2008.
"We never like to lose and obviously last year a few things happened that we were surprised with," said Strickland, who has won more matches in the Mosconi Cup than any other player.
"We didn't play that well and they had a good team. But losing didn't sit well last year and we will have to redeem ourselves this year.
"I'm very confident we will win. I'm training very hard, running a lot, doing sit-ups and at the table I think I've taken my game to a new level and I'm very healthy.
"I expect to play well and I expect my team-mates to play well.
"I've got myself ready to play and I'm taking the cup back with me. If these guys had to play me individually for this event then I would beat them all single-handed.
"The Mosconi Cup is a great event and a short format so you can't determne that you're going to win each match and every shot is imperative.
"Missing a shot is like losing two or three games. We've only lost three times and tied once but I'm not happy with losing last year so we have to regain the Mosconi Cup."
The event is played out over six sessions on four days with the action coming from the Hilton Hotel in Portomaso, Malta. A series of singles and doubles will take, while there will also be a team match to begin the event where every player from both sides will play.
Whichever team reaches 11 points first will be declared the 2008 Mosconi Cup Champions.
The performance of Tony Drago last year, where he claimed the Most Valuable Player prize, was instrumental in seeing the event staged in Malta for the first time in this its 15th staging.
"I'm shaking," joked Drago in response to Strickland's comments. "If you knew Strickland then he is an absolute genius and is capable of beating us but we're ready.
"I can't wait and you have to play as a team. If we play as well as we did last year then I know where the cup is going.
"The Mosconi Cup is the biggest cue sports event in the world, including any snooker event.
"It's a team event and Matchroom Sport do a great job of organising this tournament. I'm honoured it's in Malta and I would like to think I played a part in that. I would like to thank Snooker Promotions for their efforts in getting it here and I hope everyone has as much fun as we do."
TO find out about broadcasting The PartyPoker.com Mosconi Cup, contact Karen Manzi, Matchroom Sport's Head of Television Sales, on +44 1869 340940.
Date posted: December 11, 2008
