FEDOR GORST AND EKLENT KAÇI ARE THE FIRST TO SECURE SPOTS FOR THE 2024 MOSCONI CUP

World Champion and WNT No. 1, Fedor Gorst, and Eklent Kaçi are the first players to qualify for Team USA and Team Europe, respectively, at the 2024 Mosconi Cup. This prestigious event is set to take place 30 November – 3 December at the Caribe Royale resort in Orlando, Florida, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland and DAZN in the USA.

The 2024 European Open marked the initial cut-off stage for determining the first players to qualify for Team USA and Team Europe. Fedor Gorst and Eklent Kaçi secured their spots by reaching the final of the World Pool Championship and climbing the rankings earlier this year.

Fedor Gorst, who triumphed at both the World Pool Championship and the World Pool Masters this year, cemented his position as the top-ranked player on the World Nineball Tour (WNT). His victory at the World Pool Championship earned him a record-breaking prize of $250,000, further establishing him as one of the sport’s top talents.

“It’s been an incredible year for me, winning both the World Pool Championship and the World Pool Masters," said Gorst. "Securing my place in the 2024 Mosconi Cup is the perfect way to cap off an already successful year. I’m thrilled to be back for my third appearance, and this time, I’m ready for Team USA to win."

Eklent Kaçi is set to make his fifth appearance for Team Europe at the Mosconi Cup, having first joined in 2018 as the youngest player ever to compete in the event. His impressive runner-up finish at the World Pool Championship this year propelled him to third in the WNT rankings, making him the first player to qualify for Team Europe this year."I remember joining the team in 2018 as the youngest player, and it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown since then. Qualifying first for Team Europe this year is a proud moment for me, and I’m ready to give it my all in Orlando. The Mosconi Cup is always a special event, and I’m eager to compete alongside my teammates and bring the trophy home once more."

Qualification for the Mosconi Cup will continue in two more stages, with one player for each team being announced following the US Open Pool Championship in Atlantic City, USA, and the Hanoi Open Pool Championship in Hanoi, Vietnam. These selections will be based on the 2024 one-year rankings for both Team Europe and Team USA.

The tournament will return to the United States following last year’s Mosconi Cup at Alexandra Palace, London. With Jayson Shaw leading Team Europe and Skyler Woodward captaining Team USA both as playing captains, the 2024 edition promises to reach new heights of excitement and competition.