Souquet Begins Defence Against Mosconi Cup Team-mate

RALF Souquet will begin the defence of his PartyPoker.net World Pool Masters title against Mosconi Cup team-mate David Alcaide.

Souquet (pictured - left), who has won the Masters competition a record five times, faces a tough first round encounter against Spaniard Alcaide (right) in the opening match at the Hotel Zuiderduin, Egmond aan Zee, Holland.

These two players know each other well as they were part of the unsuccessful European Mosconi Cup side that played America in Rotterdam in December.

The Masters, which is one of the most prestigious pool events of the year, will be held from June 8-10 and features 16 of the best players in the world, including reigning World Champion Ronnie Alcano (Philippines) and current European No.1 Niels Feijen (Holland).

Each match will be played in a race-to-eight, alternate break format and there will be a 45-second shot-clock with the loser of every tie eliminated. There is a $62,000 total prize fund and the winner will pocket $20,000, while those that lose in the opening round will collect $1,500.

Competition draw
Friday, June 8 (all times are local time - CET)
Round One
Afternoon session (begins at 2pm)
1. Ralf Souquet (GER) v David Alcaide (ESP)
2. Naoyuki Oi (JPN) v Oliver Ortmann (GER)
3. Li He-wen (CHN) v Pat Holtz (SCO)

Evening session (begins at 7pm)
World Pool Masters Trickshots - featuring Rob Mollien (NED), Jasmin Ouschan (AUT), Oliver Ortmann (GER), Stefano Pelinga (ITA), Vincent Facquet (FRA) and one other.

Saturday, June 9
Round One
Afternoon session (begins at 2pm)
4. Imran Majid (ENG) v Niels Feijen (NED)
5. Wu Chia-ching (TPE) v Tyler Edey (CAN)
6. Tony Drago (MLT) v Thomas Engert (GER)

Evening session (begins at 7pm)
7. Nick van den Berg (NED) v Jasmin Ouschan (AUT)
8. Fabio Petroni (ITA) v Ronnie Alcano (PHI)

Quarter-final
9. Ralf Souquet or David Alcaide v Naoyuki Oi or Oliver Ortmann

Sunday, June 10
Quarter-finals
Afternoon session (begins at 2pm)
10. Li He-wen or Pat Holtz v Imran Majid or Niels Feijen
11. Wu Chia-ching or Tyler Edey v Tony Drago or Thomas Engert
12. Nick van den Berg or Jasmin Ouschan v Fabio Petroni or Ronnie Alcano

Evening session (begins at 7pm)
Semi-finals
13. Winner of match 9 v winner of match 10
14. Winner of match 11 v winner of match 12

Final
15. Winner of match 13 v winner of match 14