Europe’s team including local hero Tony Drago retain the Mosconi Cup yesterday by sealing an 11-5 win over the Team USA. It was an emphatic win for the Europeans having led 9-5 overnight they clinched the match by winning the opening two games in yesterday afternoon’s session - the second biggest winning margin in the event’s 15-year history.

Mika Immonen won the cup for Europe as he sunk the decisive 9-ball to spark joyous celebrations for the Europeans.

“It seems I’m burying a few ghosts,” said Immonen, who won the Most Valuable Player. “I won the US Open where I had a tragic final in 2001, then I won the Japan Open where I had lost in the final four times in ten years and won that.

“Then, my final and biggest goal was to win the Mosconi Cup. Finally it has happened and I can’t believe it. I’m really overwhelmed.

Immonen’s team mate Tony Drago was delighted to be on the winning team in front of his home crowd. “First of all a few weeks ago I lost a dear friend so this goes to him, said an emotional Drago. “Secondly I tried to play my best. I played a great match against Strickland but he beat me 5-4. Shane (Van Boening) did the same.

European captain Alex Lely was thrilled with the effort from his team.

“I played myself in 1995 and 2005 and we got spanked, said Lelt. We have got spanked quite often in this event. But I was made captain this year and I was very proud to be captain.

“I knew my team were already champions and they had my respect, we all had each other’s respect. We played with so much pride, discipline and focus on the task. They’re a machine, all I had to do was push the button, make the sandwiches and rack the balls.”