Matchroom Pool speaks to Darren Appleton ahead of the 2011 Mosconi Cup. Last year's Most Valuable Player gives us his prediction, what the Mosconi Cup means to him and his future plans.

1. How much did winning the MVP award last year mean in light of not winning a single match in 2009?

Winning the MVP was just an amazing end to my great year - it probably got me the award for Player of the Year as well.

The year before was a good and bad experience as it was my first time and even though I didn't win a point I played pretty well but it was just rotten luck on my part - but I still enjoyed the experience. For London last year I knew I was a better player than 2009 and in the form of my life leading up to Mosconi as I'd just won the US Open and the Euro Tour.

Confidence was high and I was really up for the matches and felt at home in London with huge crowds. It's one of those places were you would rather play well than crumble under the heat and I liked the environment luckily. I probably deserved the MVP last year as I played some amazing shots under pressure and played well through my matches and was very unlucky to lose a point in the doubles with Nick V.

Winning the trophy was great and more important but the MVP is a great personal award and something I will always be proud off.

2. Talk about your match with Dennis Hatch last year. Apart from the opening match of the event, it was the first time Europe took the lead and they never relinquished it?

The match with Hatch was probably the first time we'd played since our money match the year before so I was really pumped up, even more so because when we played for money his behaviour at times wasn't good.

With the Mosconi Cup being in my own country it was a great opportunity to play him but more so for the team as the scores were 6-6 so it was a big turning point.

At the start of the match I was a little too pumped up and I couldn't settle and played badly at the start. But I took a timeout at 3-0 down, Johan gave me the famous shoulder rub and I calmed down. Then I came back and played great to get to 4-4 from 4-1 down.

Hatch gave himself a great chance to win but he got tight and overrun the 7-ball and didn't leave himself a shot on the 8-ball. He left me a really tough shot on the 8-ball because the 9-ball was sitting tricky so I was under pressure and also needed to kiss the 9-ball half ball for position but I couldn't have played it any better if I had 100 goes - as my celebration showed!

It was a massive point for the team and that, along with the atmosphere, made it the best ever match in pool. It was a great honour to be part of that moment and, at that point, it was the greatest feeling ever in pool for me and I believe that win swung the Mosconi our way.

3. Bearing in mind that you never played serious 'American pool' since the IPT, what do you attribute your phenomenal success over the past few years?

My success really comes down to my mental attitude and how much I love to compete and win. I hate to lose but my discipline is so much better since I started playing American pool as the rewards are much higher than English 8-ball and it's an all round better game and atmosphere to be involved in.

There's lots more exposure so I treat pool as a full-time job now but in 2006/07 I spent a lot of time in the Philippines and USA gambling, learning the art of the game, gaining belief, improving my mental strength and just letting everyone know I meant business.

I didn't play too many tournaments in those two years because I spent all the time away from home gambling and improving my game so 2008 was my year to prove myself on the world stage. That year I got my big breakthrough in Europe and on the world stage by winning the Euro Tour, the World 10-Ball and a lot of other smaller events. That gave me the belief that I could beat anybody if I played well, which has proved to be the case since.

I feel I'm still improving and learning more from every tournament I play in and am very hungry for more titles so I work very hard practising a lot, working on my mental game and making sure I prepare for my matches. Now I know I have nothing to prove to anyone, just to myself as I want to make the Hall of Fame and break records so I will not be satisfied until I achieve those goals.

The Mosconi Cup is my aim every year and I don't want to be a player that plays one year then not again for a few years. I want to be in the team every year like Ralf (Souquet), Mika (Immonen), and Johnny Archer and that's when you can look back on career and think 'yes I achieved a lot and can be classed as one of the greats of the game'. I hope to be in that class one day, that's my goal.

4. How much do you enjoy the jet-setting part of the game as you certainly put the miles in?

Travelling was something new to me as from the ages of 16 to 30 in my 8-ball days the travelling was mainly by car up and down the M1 and M62 and the odd trip abroad. But American pool is so much more global and played all over the world so in the last few years I've flown on around 60-75 planes a year to different parts of the world.

At first I hated the flying but now I get used to planes so I'm not as worried. The travelling can be tough with jet lag and so many different time zones but I make sure I travel early to give myself the best chance to recover and prepare for tournament a good three days before the event starts as jet lag makes you shaky and nervous when playing.

I like seeing different cultures and a way of life in general worldwide, although obviously we all have our favourite places and some are not so nice. But I wouldn't change my life. I make a living at something I started as hobby so am very lucky to travel all over world.

Lots of people think it's an easy life, but it's not, it's stressful at times and even more so when not playing well but not making money. That flight can be a long trip home but when you have a great tournament it makes up for all the bad ones. It's tough to travel all over week in, week out but one day I want a family so maybe in 10 years I will slow down and try to make a business but I will always be involved in pool as it's my life so one day I would like to give something back to the sport that's been so good to me so far.

5. What was with the decision to base yourself permanently in the US and how much will you miss England?

Well last year after winning the US Open made my mind up for sure. I was thinking Florida or somewhere on the east coast or maybe Vegas as I love these parts of America and I know people. I thought about it for a few years as in England and Europe there aren't so many tournaments, nobody likes to gamble and the tournaments we do have in Europe are for small money.

The big money events are mainly in Asia and Matchroom events but in America pool is popular with great pool rooms, there are always loads of tournaments from small money to decent size events like the Seminole Tour and BCA events but also the weather is better with a great lifestyle and lots of other things to do. I love the country and the people are great to me.

I love England and miss my British TV and family but besides that there was no reason to be there as pool is very small there unfortunately, but I do go back when time allows.

But also I met my girlfriend Angie after the US Open and we hit it off straight away, like I'd known her my whole life. Things moved quickly between us and she's from Allentown in Pennsylvania so I decided to base myself there for now. It's quiet there but I like it and her family and friends are great to me and the life is very good there. It's also close to New York and Philadelphia, which is perfect. In the future I'm not sure if we will move or stay there we will see. Since moving my game has got stronger as the playing conditions are tougher in states than Europe.

Also, I'm thinking of buying property in Las Vegas next year so everything's great for me at the moment and I feel I made the right decision to leave and I've finally got my visa for five years so I'm very happy.

6. What do you think about the controversy with Charlie Williams being named US captain?

Well I was surprised Charlie as I thought it would be Nick Varner or someone like Jim Rempe.

But when I thought about it, it makes sense as he's still heavily involved in pool, knows all the players on both sides, is a great coach and motivator so I think it's perfect for the American team.

The controversy and what's been written about him is very harsh, especially when most of these people don't know the guy. It's a game of pool, not life or death guys so get a grip and give the guy a chance.

I find him very helpful, friendly and honest - I see nothing but good for the American team. I don't know why people are so against him but I think the players are very happy that he's captain and that's the most important - to gain respect from your players, everything else takes care of itself.

I believe win or lose he will do a great job and probably be captain next year also in London so the fans should get behind him and the team. Charlie can only do so much and the guys he sends out can't ask Charlie what shot to play or ask him to play so at the end it's down to the players. The captain plays a big roll of the table and again I think they've got the best man for the job.

7. Who's going to win this year's Mosconi Cup?

Obviously I think we will win especially with the team we have. We've five of the best players in Europe, it's a great mix and we're all good friends and desperate to win. The Americans have a strong team but I think under the pressure I like our side but again it probably be close. Both teams match up great but I just think we have a bit too much for them this year fingers crossed score 11-9.