Photo Credit: JP Parmentier/Matchroom Multi Sport
Chris Robinson, a former APA member from California, has been selected to represent Team USA in this year’s Mosconi Cup. Robinson will make his PartyPoker Mosconi Cup debut after being selected by Team Captain Jeremy Jones as the fifth and final player who will travel to London to defend the title against Team Europe.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise to his pool career. Robinson, who began playing APA in 2016, enjoyed a 5th Place finish at the Diamond Las Vegas Open in March before the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to professional tournaments. Shortly thereafter, Robinson’s name emerged as a contender for Team USA.
Robinson has since impressed Captain Jones and Vice-Captain Joey Gray in training camps ahead of this year’s Mosconi Cup.
Robinson will join Shane Van Boening, Justin Bergman, Billy Thorpe, and another former APA member, Skyler Woodward, on Team USA. Team USA is looking to make it a Mosconi Cup three-peat having regained the title in London in 2018, ending an eight-year drought, and then successfully defending it in Las Vegas last Thanksgiving.
“I am so happy,” said Robinson. “I will be working my tail off from now until December. I felt like I left my best game on the table when I was training with JJ (Jeremy Jones) and that is the best you can do. I think I have evolved as a player and probably improved moreover the last few months than I have in quite a while.
“When I got the call I was driving from a pool hall to where I was staying. I was kind of expecting it to be one of those calls the same as the two calls I’ve had in the past two years, where I still have stuff to work on and next year would be the year I’m shooting at. When Jeremy said I’d made it, I didn’t really know how to react. I don’t think it has 100 percent hit me yet.
“My career goal was to win a Mosconi Cup. This is setting into reality but just because I made it, we haven’t won yet, so I need to do my part, keep getting better, and it’s all part of the process.”
Captain Jones added: “There are many positives with Chris. He is a guy I have seen heading in the right direction, he is a grinder, plays hard, practices hard, trains hard and has a great frame of mind for this type of setting. He is also a player who I think is going to reap the rewards of being around the rest of the team.
“I think he will relish in the Mosconi Cup and really perform well in December. I felt that he was going to make a Mosconi Cup team at one time or another; I wasn’t so sure it was going to be this year but after I got to spend a little more time with him, I love his attitude, love his goals and I think he is a player who will reap the rewards of being around those other four champions.”
The 2020 Partypoker Mosconi Cup is set to take place at Alexandra Palace, London from December 1-4, live on Sky Sports and DAZN.
According to Matchroom, they are still hopeful and determined the Mosconi Cup will take place this year. They’re in discussions with the relevant organizations and personnel to stay up-to-date. Matchroom indicated their highest priority is the safety of everyone connected with the event, and that they are working hard to explore every avenue to make the event happen.
Visit http://www.matchroompool.com/mosconi-cup/ for more info.