The Mosconi Cup, an annual pool competition between Europe and the United States, will be played for the first time in a new location, the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, from November 30 to December 3, 2024.
It's still a while away, but the most secure online sports betting sites from California on the West Coast to New York on the East Coast (and everywhere in between) will very likely be hinting at Team Europe's success once the odds are released.
According to sports betting expert Ross Benelich, gamblers will also be able to take advantage of a range of bonuses, sign-up offers and the best odds on some of the most highly-contested matches in November.
So why are European teams the favourites to win again?
Europe is currently riding a wave of success with four straight wins, so it's no wonder they're already considered heavy favorites among fans. The team's sheer dominance is a testament to their skill, consistency and the strength of the talent in Europe's pool.
Named after legendary billiards player Willie Mosconi, the Mosconi Cup features a series of nine-ball matches played in a best-of-five rack format, with each team fielding five players selected based on the World 9-Ball Tour rankings and wild-card selections.
The competition format will consist of both team and individual matches, with points awarded for each match, and the first team to reach 11 points will be crowned champions.
While Europe has the advantage at the moment, the Americans will undoubtedly be eager to reclaim the title and break Europe's dominance of the competition.
With the 2024 Cup promising to be another thrilling showdown between two of the world's best pool regions, let's take a quick look back at the history of this truly incredible tournament.
The Cup was created in 1994 by Matchroom Sports, a renowned sports event promoter. Named after the revered American billiard player Willie Mosconi, the tournament quickly became a major landmark in the billiards calendar. (Golf fans will quickly recognize that the Cup is inspired by the Ryder Cup, which successfully steers the transatlantic rivalry between the United States and Europe.)
In the early years, American teams dominated, taking advantage of the strong tradition of American billiards and the presence of legendary players, but in the late 1990s and early 2000s, European players began to make great strides and subsequently closed the gap and turned the tide.
Thus began a bitter rivalry that culminated in Europe's first victory in 2001.
The tournament format has evolved over the years, originally consisting of simple match play but now combining singles, doubles and team competition, testing both individual skill and teamwork.
The Mosconi Cup attracts a fair amount of media attention and has helped to boost the popularity of billiards. It's a showcase for up-and-coming players, a platform for players to display all their skills – the good, the bad and the ugly. No pressure, right?
