THE HEAT IS ON!
by Mike
Panozzo
Knowing that the European squad desperately needed a win to start the final day's action at the 2000 Mosconi Cup, American Corey Deuel delivered a near-perfect performance against Steve Knight, running out at every opportunity to score an easy 5-1 win over the Brit. The win at York Hall in London gave the U.S. team a commanding 10-6 total match lead, and left it just two wins shy of earning its fifth consecutive Mosconi Cup title. The Euros must now will six of the final seven matches to wrest the title away from the U.S.
"I felt as comfortable as I have the entire tournament," said the 23-year-old Deuel. "I had a streak over the last three matches of seven or eight straight run-outs. I hated to see that end in this match, but everything turned out okay, I guess."
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American Corey Deuel continued his incredible run of success in his first Mosconi Cup appearance, trouncing Britain's Steve Knight, 5-1, Sunday at York Hall in London to give the U.S. squad a 10-6 overall lead.
Photo by
Lawrence Lustig
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After winning the lag and running out the opening game, Knight took just three more trips to the table — a poor safe on the 1 ball on his next break, an empty break, and a botched combination shot on the 9. Each time,
Deuel cleaned up the mess without error.
"Earl has really helped me a lot here," Deuel said of the American captain, with whom his relationship has not always been cordial. "I came to the table today ready to play."
In the second match of the day, American star Johnny Archer plays Finland's Mika Immonen, with Michael Coltrain and former snooker world champion Steve Davis to follow.
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