The United States took a 2-1 lead against Europe after the opening day's play at the Mosconi Cup in London.
Deuel gives Americans overnight advantage
The United States took a 2-1 lead against Europe after the opening day's play at the Mosconi Cup in London.
The 'Ryder Cup of pool' saw the defending champions eke out an advantage after three matches on Thursday evening thanks to Corey Deuel, who came from 3-0 behind to beat Europe veteran Mika Immonen 6-4.
Deuel clawed his way back into the match and then laid a snooker in the 10th rack, which Immonen fouled, setting the American up for an outrageous two-nine combination shot that left the European stunned.
"I took a shot in the dark on that one because the three was locked up, I tried to get it close to the hole but I didn't think I'd make it," Deuel told
Sky Sports afterwards.
"He's playing good pool and we always have good matches. The fans are tough but it's fun to be here.
"It's a good start but we have a long road ahead of us."
Europe edged the opening match 6-5 in the 17th edition of the event, a game that saw all five team members take alternate shots, with Immonen responsible for the winning blow.
The second match of the night saw Nick van den Berg and Ralf Souquet take on Dennis Hatch and Rodney Morris and it was the Americans who surged into a 5-0 lead.
Van den Berg and Souquet got the partisan crowd at Bethnal Green's York Hall going with a rollicking fightback, only for Hatch and Morris to stumble across the line with a 6-4 win.
Hostilities will be resumed on Friday night when Europe's Darren Appleton and Karl Boyes take on Shane Van Boening and veteran Johnny Archer.
