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OVERALL MATCH SCORE: USA 9-4 EUROPE (FIRST TO 11)

MATCH 10 - DOUBLES - DENNIS HATCH AND COREY DEUEL 1-6 NIELS FEIJEN AND THORSTEN HOHMANN

MATCH 11 - DOUBLES - SHANE VAN BOENING AND OSCAR DOMINGUEZ 4-6 RALF SOUQUET AND MIKA IMMONEN

MATCH 12 - SINGLES - DENNIS HATCH 6-4 NIELS FEIJEN

MATCH 13 - DOUBLES - COREY DEUEL AND JOHNNY ARCHER 6-5 THORSTEN HOHMANN AND DARREN APPLETON

MATCH 14 - SINGLES - OSCAR DOMINGUEZ 4-6 MIKA IMMONEN

TEAM USA need just two more points to lift the PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup as they held off a comebacking European team at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas to lead by four points (9-5) going into Sunday.

Europe began the third day 7-2 behind and, although they won the session 3-2, still were helpless to stop USA inching closer to winning the Mosconi Cup outright for the first time since 2005.

The Europeans won the opening two matches before the hosts claimed the next two, before Mika Immonen kept Europe's slim hopes alive by claiming the last point of the day.

4.25pm: QUOTES: MIKA IMMONEN (EUROPE): "We needed this one just to keep a bit of a margin. Finally I was able to find my own pace and I had been a little bit weak earlier. We're just closing the gap and putting a little bit more pressure on them."

4.24pm: Oscar's heroics are all in vain as Immonen completes a brave rack when clearly out of sorts to win the match 6-4 and reduce the overall lead to 9-5 in favour of the Americans.

4.20pm: Dominguez suffered no loss of confidence in the next game as he played some outstanding positional shots to clear the table and reduce the arrears to 4-5.

4.12pm: Immonen misses an easy 2 ball as he over spins the cue ball. Dominguez looks good negotiating a difficult rack but misses the 8 ball into the centre pocket to give the rack to the European as they reached the hill at 5-3.

4.07pm: Immonen is now punching all of his shots but is forced to play safe as his positional shot was underpowered. Dominguez though scratched into the middle pocket and with ball in hand, Immonen dished up to take the lead at 4-3.

4.03pm: Immonen looked unconvincing in the next but managed to complete the run out to keep his team in it at 3-3.

3.58pm: A good break from the Finn left him a great opportunity to take the rack. He overran going to the 7 ball and could only play safe. Dominguez was equal to it and then Mika scratched with a one rail escape and with ball in hand, young Oscar completed the rack to lead 3-2.

3.50pm: Immonen had a good rack in the next as he looked a little more confident to level the score at 2-2.

3.40pm: Immonen pushes out in the third game and gets a little lucky as a lose shot sees a cluster of balls between the white and the 2 ball. Both players had nervy visits and the 9 ball ended up hanging over the corner pocket. A double kiss by Dominguez when playing safe gave the Finn a chance but he failed to pot the 4 ball as the rack degenerated. In the end, Oscar set the crowd alight with an 8/9 combo to lead 2-1.

3.37pm: It's 1-1 as Immonen cashed in on an illegal Dominguez break to level the score.

3.30pm: A defeat for Europe in the final match of the Saturday would probably extinguish any lingering hopes that they may have had. Mika Immonen, on whose shoulders it rested, faced off against Oscar Dominguez. It was a tense opener as both players made mistakes but Dominguez redeemed it with two big pressure pots on the 8 and 9 balls to go into the early lead.

3.11pm: It's a big Mosconi Cup moment as Deuel breaks with it 5-5 and 8-4 to the USA. The break wasn't what the USA were looking for and both teams had visits. Archer pulled one out the bag to pot the 1 ball and from there a confident Archer and nervous Deuel negotiated the table to win the match and take the USA to 9-4.

3.06pm: A perfect break from Hohmann, but Appleton overruns the next which sees his German partner tying up the Americans in a safety. Hohmann then made a superb pot on the red 3 to set up a run out and take the match to hill hill.

3.00pm: Archer's break saw the 7 ball drop and two balls pass the head string. The veteran American was now coaching his nervous partner and they cleared the rack to go to the hill at 5-4.

2.55pm: The match was becoming tense and with the 9 ball sitting on the rail with the 4 ball behind it, it offered a welcome combination. Appleton put the USA in a tough snooker and Archer fouled trying to escape and it was down to Appleton to take the combo and level the scores at 4-4

2.48pm: Archer's safety attempt in the next came up short and then Europe really turned the screw with an outstanding safety, Deuel's jump shot flew off the table where it was deftly caught by Hohmann, sitting in his chair. With ball in hand, Europe ran out to reduce the deficit to 3-4.

2.44pm: Appleton's loose shot on the 1-ball proves critical in the next. 4-2 to USA

2.39pm: An illegal break from Archer saw Hohmann back to the table but a miss hit jump shot saw the cue ball roll into the top left pocket. With ball in hand the Americans ran it down to the 8 ball but Deuel tried to force it to send the white across the table for the 9, but it stayed out. Appleton and Hohmann dropped the remaining two balls to take the score to 2-3 in favour of the Americans.

2.35pm: Appleton's illegal break leaves the door open for 3-1. Archer, screaming confidence-building statements at his team-mate, is showing his experience and Deuel gets the job done by slow-rolling the 9-ball into the corner pocket. American duo two ahead.

2.23pm: SPEAK TO US: "Great job you guys. Thanks for the live blog but lets get a live stream going next year." RAFAEL. Contact us e-mail info@matchroom.com

2.22pm: But it is not long before America reclaim the lead. Johnny's wife Melanie leads the U-S-A chanting and waves some home-made banners.

2.20pm: The second rack is an eventful one. Deuel misses a pink 4, Appleton nearly flukes the 9-ball, Deuel then loses position and forces Archer to bank the 8, but fails. Appleton then shows him how to do it with a fine table-length bank and he is hopping on one leg as the ball travels down table and into the pocket. The dancing works as it soon 1-1. 

2.16pm: The last doubles match of the 2009 PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup. Deuel and Archer take the opener.

2.11pm: It's been announced that we will have a fifth match today. A singles clash between America's Oscar Dominguez and Europe's Mika Immonen. But first a doubles clash between Corey Deuel / Johnny Archer and Thorsten Hohmann / Darren Appleton.

2.07pm: QUOTES - DENNIS HATCH (USA): "He could've had me 5-1 and shooting the 9-ball and I would still think I had a chance - I never give up.

"If it wasn't for the crowd then this wouldn't be the same thing but they're on your back and you're on there's so we carry each other.

"After me and Corey played I said we weren't playing good and they looked like they were playing better than us.

"But I said to Johnny (Archer) that I would put us on the board and he said 'you're the man' so I had a tonne of confidence.

"When he (Feijen) was shooting the 5-ball his hand was shaking and his whole arm was shaking and trembling so I figured he may dog it.

"I'm loving this and this is amazing. I love Sky Sports and Matchroom Sport for giving me this opportunity.

"This is the best experience of my life, win or lose, and I can't say enough about this - I love it."

2.01pm: But it's not! Hatch wins! Feijen misses the orange 5 it then rolls along the top rail but fails to drop into that pocket either. Hatch takes a deep breath when he eyes up the 9-ball and screams loudly seconds after he pots it.

1.59pm: Great break from Feijen. This could be another hill-hill clash.

1.57pm: Darren Appleton threw away a 5-1 lead yesterday and lost 6-5 to Johnny Archer. Niels Feijen is in danger of following in Darren's footsteps as he was 3-1 and 4-2 up.

1.55pm: Feijen misses the pink 4. Rare nerves being shown from the normally calm and composed Feijen.

1.52pm: In the words of legendary Mosconi Cup commentator Sid Widdell 'It couldn't be more exciting if Elvis walked in eating a chip butty!'

1.50pm: Hatch wins the rack. It's all level. 4-4. It's in effect a best of three match now. Both players' faces are sagging with tension.

1.47pm: The cue ball is bumped all over the place off the break and gets shunted into a pocket. Feijen looks annoyed as Hatch comes back to the table.

1.44pm: Hatch wins the rack and, not for the first time today, encourages more noise from the crowd. It's standing room only at the Studio Ballroom in the MGM Grand and a sensational atmosphere.

1.42pm: A good break along with a fine thin cut to dispose of the 2-ball from Hatch keeps things interesting.

1.38pm: Feijen completes the rack and regains his two-rack advantage. With the alternate-break format, Hatch can't afford to make any mistakes.

1.36pm: Niels Feijen makes a fine break and this looks good for 4-2

1.34pm: Seconds after writing that, it is. A 5-9 combination leads to a rare chant of U-S-A. We haven't heard much of that today. Will the home fans have more to cheer soon?

1.33pm: A tight safety by Hatch sees the cue ball snuck behind the 9-ball with the 5-ball down the same side rail. Feijen doesn't come close with his escape attempt. This may well be 3-2 very soon.

1.26pm: With 5 balls left on the table, Hatch pots the 5-ball but overhits it and the cue ball vanishes into the corner pocket. Feijen does the rest and Europe's fantastic day is continuing. 3-1 to Feijen.

1.21pm: A nervy-looking Hatch made a bit of a mess of the safe in the next and left the 2 ball on for Niels. The intensely focused Dutchman worked his way through the table to take the lead against the break. 2-1 Europe.

1.15pm: Nothing great for Feijen on the break in the second so he elects to play safe, They go back and forth before Hatch's kicked escape leaves a half chance for Niels, who missed it. It went safe but Dennis's attempt at a safety went wrong to hand the initiative to Feijen. Niels holds his nerve to clear and level things at 1-1.

1.10pm: It's Hatch time at the Mosconi Cup as big Dennis attempts to reverse the momentum against Niels Feijen. Hatch wins the lag and crunches home the opening break and looks composed as he runs out the rack for 1-0.

1.06pm: QUOTES: RALF SOUQUET (EUROPE): "Playing in the Mosconi Cup and playing for Europe is such a great honour and so much more pressure than in an individual tournament."

QUOTES: MIKA IMMONEN (EUROPE): "I haven't played great as I've been struggling with flu and jet lag so I'm trying to get it back but I'm still not 100 per cent.

"When I'm nervous I feel extra nervous and with that last 8-ball I was just trying to hold it together and I didn't hit it that well.

"I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. In practise I make it 1,000 times out of 1,000 but this is the Mosconi Cup.

"Now we've got some momentum and we're feeling stronger. We changed our strategy a bit trying to get the crowd more pumped up and we're getting more pumped up.

"We're feeling better and we just need to keep doing what we're doing and hold that loving feeling."

1.03pm: Immonen is relieved to pot the 8-ball, the 9-ball soon follows from Souquet and Europe win. The fightback is on!

1.00pm: Immonen provides a fantastic break just when it's needed. It looks straight-forward from here.

12.55pm: There are only three balls left on the table when Immonen leaves the 7-ball hanging. But, in yet another twist, Dominguez clatters into the 8-ball, after potting the 7-ball. Van Boening immediately redeems himself by banking the 8-ball and Dominguez makes the 9-ball vanish. It should be all over. But it's not. 5-4 to Souquet and Immonen.

12.52pm: Van Boening has made a few mistakes in this match and won't be happy when he tries to slow-roll the pink 4. Souquet sends it into the pocket.

12.48pm: The opportunity is not taken. A rare error from Souquet, who leaves the orange 5 on, after a poor positional effort from Immonen gifts the Americans a rack back. 5-3 in this match.

12.45pm: A perfect break from the Europeans should lead to it becoming 7-4 overall.

12.41pm: Dominguez's break is a legal one but no potting shot on the 1-ball. Van Boening looks to have played it safe but nothing's safe when The Kaiser is in form. "Unbelievable," screams an excited Jim Wych as Souquet rolls the 1-ball down the side rail from a narrow angle. Europe wrap up the rack and are now on the hill. Out of 14 racks played today, Europe have won 11 of them.

12.36pm: Immonen and Souquet make it 4-2. USA are beginning to feel the heat.

12.34pm: A shocking, unforced error from Van Boening sees him miss a simple 4-ball into the side pocket and the Europeans spring out of their chairs.

12.33pm:  A legal European break but Souquet then opts to play safe. Dominguez gets the jump cue out and leaves the 1-ball safe. Immonen tries a masse shot but then leaves the same ball on into the side pocket.

12.26pm: Van Boening records an illegal break as the 1-ball is pocketed but only one other goes past the headstring. A loose safety by Souquet is followed by a jump shot from Dominguez before Immonen leaves the 2-ball on. However, Van Boening opts for a kick shot to get better position but the subsequent failure to make contact gives Europe ball-in hand. Immonen and Souquet are ranked one and two in the world and have no problem with this. They lead 3-2.

12.20pm: It comes to an end when Dominguez unintentionally pots the pink 4. Van Boening then leaves the orange 5 on. It should be 2-2 and it is.

12.16pm: Europe's break is legal but Immonen has to play safe on the pink 4. Safety battle.

12.13pm: A good break from the Americans leaves the gate open for an easy run out. The Americans take the chance and move 2-1 up.

12.08pm: Immonen nearly creates a golden break as the 9 ball drifts up table but comes up just short. It didn't make much odds though as the Europeans clear the table to level things at 1-1.

12.05pm: Another crucial match for Team Europe as Mika Immonen and Ralf Souquet stride out into the arena but they lose the lag and Oscar Dominguez and Shane Van Boening run out from the break.

12.04pm: SPEAK TO US: "I think this is the best Mosconi Cup ever. Not just because the USA is winning, but I don't recall ever seeing so many great, great shots by so many players. Seems like almost every player has made many just incredible shots." JIM A. Your thoughts? info@matchroom.com

12.00pm: SPEAK TO US: "Firstly a big thank you for the daily blog. I'm working nights all weekend and this is the only place I can find up to date information from the match.

"Great first two days for America but if this team from Europe get on a roll I wouldn't be surprised to see the final two days turn around the match completely.

"My only concern is Thorsten Hohmann....why is he playing? Since winning the world title he has done nothing in the game...Peach would have been a much better choice." GARY LEEDS.

Do you agree with Gary? Tell us your thoughts, observations and jokes by e-mailing info@matchroom.com

11.54am: QUOTES: THORSTEN HOHMANN (EUROPE): "We aren't going out without a fight. The Americans have shown some heart and played very well but we've had some bad rolls and that's why we're 7-2 down.

"But it's not over and we're a strong team and I think we can do it.

"As you look at each individual in our team we're all world champions but the US are probably the strongest team they've had. Maybe on paper we were the favourites but I knew America would be strong."

QUOTES: NIELS FEIJEN (EUROPE): "Yesterday Darren (Appleton) played a great match but Johnny Archer played superbly to back, but it was a body blow for us.

"We said we had win the first three matches and we played awesome and got off to a good start. The break was finally clicking and we're pumped up. We finally got an interview!"

11.50am: Hohmann sinks four balls off the break but Feijen has to later play safe. But Hatch leaves the green six over the pocket and it's game over. This looks a completely different team to the first two days. They win 6-1 and reduce the overall deficit to 7-3.

11.44am: For the first time USA are starting to feel the pressure of the Mosconi Cup. Hatch misses the 3-ball and to add insult to injury then scratches. Europe progress through the balls until they play safe and leave the cue ball tight behind the 9-ball with the 8-ball also in the way of the 7-ball. Deuel's two-rail escape is not even close and with ball in hand Europe do the rest. They lead 5-1.

11.42am: It's 4-1! Europe aren't messing about now. Could this be the start of a memorable fightback?

11.37am: During the break, Hatch acts as conductor to get some noise from the home fans in a capacity crowd. It doesn't make any difference to the momentum of this match. Europe benefit from Deuel's miss on the 2-ball and storm through the rack for 3-1.

11.33am: The European break is a legal one and they make no mistake. They look in a bad mood and ready to right a few wrongs. 2-1 to Europe.

11.27am: USA break and run out. 1-1.

11.18am: The European team, featuring five World Champions, have underperformed in the first two days and need to improve today. They make a good start as Hohmann's 9-ball makes it 1-0.

11.14am: First match is a doubles clash between the Americans Dennis Hatch and Corey Deuel and Niels Feijen and Thorsten Hohmann representing Europe.

11.05am: Hello and welcome to day three of the Mosconi Cup. USA are four points away from clinching the title. They could win it today. The matches are...

Saturday, December 12 (American players listed first)
Match 10 Doubles match - Dennis Hatch and Corey Deuel v Niels Feijen and Thorsten Hohmann
Match 11 Doubles match - Shane Van Boening and Oscar Dominguez v Ralf Souquet and Mika Immonen
Match 12 Singles match - Dennis Hatch v Niels Feijen
Match 13 Doubles match - Corey Deuel and Johnny Archer v Thorsten Hohmann and Darren Appleton.
If Europe perform well in the first few matches there will be a fifth match today, which will be a singles one.