Europe have the upper hand after the first day’s play at the 2011 PartyPoker.net Mosconi Cup in Las Vegas after racing into a 4-1 lead against USA.
Team Europe currently hold a commanding 4-1 lead at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino after taking advantage of some tentative play from the Americans.
USA captain Charlie Williams will have it all to do on Friday if he is going to lift the spirits of his team in their quest to wrestle the Mosconi Cup from Europe.
Europe got off to a great start in the Team match, where all five players from each team competed, taking the game 6-3 to lead the tournament 1-0.
USA soon got back on level terms as Johnny Archer and Shawn Putnam took the honours in the first doubles encounter of the day with a 6-3 triumph over Chris Melling and Nick van der Berg.
After that America did not get a look in as Europe took full control. First Niels Feijen saw off Rodney Morris 6-0, before Darren Appleton and Ralf Souquet made it 3-1 with a 6-4 victory over Shane van Boening and Mike Dechaine in the doubles.
Melling then rounded off the day with a superb 6-5 win over Van Boening to ensure Europe headed into day two with a handsome 4-1 advantage as they look to retain the trophy they won last year in London.
2010 MVP Darren Appleton was delighted with the win, he said: “I'm really happy with the start. The format had changed a bit and it adds more pressure. You're a bit cold and have no help from your friends. I played the first rack and was shaking really badly.
"Chris didn't get a shot in the first game but he managed to win the rack that won us the point and I think he will go on and play very well.
“We don't have to gel as we just come together and are a lot more relaxed than ever before. We're playing really good, feel calm in ourselves and pretty sure we're going to win."
