The opening exchange saw the Archer/Daulton axis get off to the best possible start against seasoned Mosconi Cup veteran Mika Immonen (Finland) and new boy Marcus 'the Swede'Chamat.

Commented Immonen after the match, " Nothing went right for us. I missed the 1-ball in the first rack and they never looked back. Both of them broke really well but when we broke it just didn't happen."

Euro skipper Ralf Souquet and fellow German Thomas Engert got it back to 1 - 1 against a shaky looking Michael Coltrain and Jeremy Jones with a sound 5 - 1 victory before the drama unfurled in the final match of the evening.

Earl ' the Pearl' Strickland and debutant Corey Deuel raced into a 3 - 0 lead against the two Steves, Davis and Knight, before the English pairing lead by Davis, pegged it back to 3 - 2. Cheered on by a buoyant crowd, Knight took the initiative in the sixth rack and looked like running out before a cruel in-off on the 8-ball gave the US a 4 - 2 lead. With the break in their favour Deuel took the next rack and the match.

Commented Ralf Souquet after the session, " 2 - 1 down is not so bad and we are all looking forward to tomorrow afternoon. I will not be changing the pairings as I thought everyone did well under the circumstances. I wasn't too happy with the racking and I will be talking to the referee about it tomorrow."

FULL RESULTS
Mika Immonen / Marcus Chamat 1 - 5 Johnny Archer / Shannon Daulton
Ralf Souquet / Thomas Engert 1 - 5 Jeremy Jones / Michael Coltrain
Steve Davis / Steve Knight 2 - 5 Earl Strickland / Corey Deuel

Each match is a race to 5, alternate break and the first side to reach 12 points wins the Cup.

For further details call Luke Riches on 07785 395 688
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