Europe on top after opening day

Europe are firmly in charge of the 2008 Mosconi Cup after a strong performance on the opening day of the team competition saw Alex Lely's quintet race to a commanding 3-1 lead at the Hilton Conference Centre yesterday.

The Americans, captained by veteran Nick Varner, travelled to the Mediterranean hellbent to reclaim the coveted trophy they lost in Las Vegas last year when Team Europe won an enthralling encounter 11-8.

However, if yesterday's proceedings are anything to go by then the US team face a tough order to reach their objective as Team Europe look well placed to add a fourth title come next Sunday.

The Mosconi Cup is played over 21 matches and the first team totaling 11 points will be declared winners.

Yesterday's play got underway with a team event with the full set of players in action.

Here Mika Immonen took the initiative for the European team as the Finn potted two decisive nine-balls from the opening six frames to give the hosts a 4-2 lead.

An illegal break from Ralf Souqet opened the door for the Americans to bridge the gap to 4-3. However, Europe were not to be denied.

US player Rodney Morris produced a double bank but scratched when potting the cueball and Neils Feijen took full advantage to sink the final ball giving the hosts the first point.

In the opening doubles match Lely and Varner wheeled out their heavyweights as Europe's most experienced players Feijen and Souqet met the reigning World Cup of Pool winners Shane Van Boening and Morris.

The American pair were on their way to a comfortable win when Van Boening and Morris raced to a 3-1 lead. However, the European duo started to excel and fought back to 3-3. That was a hard blow for the Americans who failed to recover and some magical play from Souqet saw Europe complete an amazing comeback to move 2-0 up.

"It definitely wasn't an easy one and we were 3-1 down and had to come back," Souqet said. "We made a couple of mistakes at the start but when it counted we came back."

On his part Feijen said: "You enjoy playing doubles with a great player like Ralf as if you are both playing well then it releases the pressure. He puts you in the perfect spot and we had a comfort zone in the second part of the match. We're pumped up and going all the way."

Next up was the singles match between the US Open champion Immonen and Jeremy Jones.

This turned out to be a no-contest as the Finnish player was in sparkling form, racing into a quick four-frame lead in just inside 18 minutes.

Jones tried to make a game of it when he won the fifth frame but could not prevent the inevitable as the American lost position to the red three and Immonen cleared the table and put Europe firmly in command - 3-0 up.

"I'm really delighted especially as my last personal memory of the Mosconi Cup was in 2006 when I screwed up an easy chance to win the cup. It's about trying to redeem myself," Immonen said.

"When I came back it was a bit of history for me. Now seeing the other lads win it last year I was overjoyed about that and I really had to fight back to get on the team and I'm delighted to be back.

"We can't be too happy yet as America are great fighters so we have to keep cool and do what we've been doing all year - winning matches."

The last match of the evening saw Malta's Tony Drago and Mark Gray facing Earl Strickland and Johnny Archer.

It was an evenly balanced match with Drago and Gray fighting back from 2-0 down to three-all. However, in the end the Americans made the most of their opponents' mistakes to give US their first point and end the day 3-1 down.