USA Billiards Team Given Fright at PartyPoker.com World Cup of Pool

USA Billiards Team Given Fright at PartyPoker.com World Cup of PoolUSA billiard team was given a massive fright in their opening round match of the PartyPoker.com World Cup of Pool. The Americans had been 4-2 behind against an under-rated Singapore side before Mosconi Cup regulars Rodney Morris and Earl Strickland turned on the style to win 9-6.This victory keeps them in contention to become the first ever World Cup winners and claim the top prize of $60,000. Strickland admitted the match had been tougher than he had expected. He said: “I was surprised as Singapore sounds easy but they were good players. “We played very well apart from the scratch early on. They went ahead 4-2 and they were unfortunate from the breaks as they didn’t have many shots from the break.Who do you think will win? Discuss World Cup of Pool here.“But overall it was a really good match and Rodney and I had to play well to beat them.“We ran out six out of nine frames from the break and it was a good match for television.”
When USA , who were clear favourites to comfortably win this match, sealed the first rack it appeared this would be the start of a procession into the second round. The Singapore team of Chan Keng Kwang and Toh Lian Han brought the game level but Morris had a touch of fortune in the next as he fluked the 9-ball to put America back in front. However, Singapore showed what they were capable of as they took the next three racks to move into a surprise 4-2 lead and leave the players and majority of the crowd stunned.But Morris and Strickland, who had partnered each other on numerous occasions, won three racks themselves to move ahead 5-4. This lead only lasted minutes as Singapore won the tenth to make it tied again, this time at 5-5. American broke in the 11th and ran through the balls as Morris kept his composure to restore Team USA ’s advantage.In the 12th Morris had a long attempt at the orange five and ran the ball along the rail but was unlucky to see the ball left hovering over the pocket and that was all that Singapore needed to cling on to America at 6-6. Already today seeded teams Sweden and England A had been knocked out and USA were having to work hard to ensure they were not the next big name casualty.They claimed the 13th to keep their noses in front and when America moved 8-6 ahead Strickland dropped to his knees as he showed the relief of being on the verge of victory. USA still had one more rack to win and they did this in the next to seal a hard-fought 9-6 victory and set up a second round encounter with England B. Strickland was confident of USA ’s chances of making at least the quarter-finals. He added: “I think England will be a softer match than the one we just played."“But it will still be tough as you do not get a soft team after the first round.”

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