“Justin Bergman 2.0”: Ruysink Backs Returning Champion For Mosconi Cup
Seven years after helping Team USA lift the trophy in Las Vegas, Justin Bergman returns to the Mosconi Cup with a captain who knows his game and believes there is more to come.
Johan Ruysink has a name for the player he is bringing back into Team USA: “Justin Bergman 2.0”.
The returning captain sees a familiar strength in Bergman’s cue-ball control, alongside a player still making adjustments as he prepares for the international stage. His selection reunites two members of America’s successful 2019 campaign, with another opportunity to win the Mosconi Cup on home soil.
For supporters who remember Bergman celebrating in Las Vegas, his return reconnects this year’s team with USA’s most recent victory. For Ruysink, the decision is about what he can contribute in Orlando.
The player behind the return
Asked about Bergman in an interview ahead of the team announcements, Ruysink described him as one of the best movers of the cue ball in America.
That ability is central to the captain’s assessment. In a contest that combines singles and doubles, controlling where the white finishes can shape the next visit, whether it belongs to the same player or a partner.
Ruysink also acknowledged the details still being worked on. Bergman is adjusting to a new shaft, while his break remains an area for attention before the competition begins.
His endorsement comes with a clear understanding of the preparation required. He knows the player, knows the qualities he can call upon and sees Bergman as a valuable addition to the side.
A point that helped change the 2019 contest
Bergman’s last winning Mosconi Cup campaign offers a reminder of what he has contributed before.
On the second day in Las Vegas, Shane Van Boening had just lost 5–1 to Joshua Filler. Van Boening returned alongside Bergman to face Filler and Jayson Shaw, with USA needing a response.
The Americans won 5–1.
“That’s a huge point,” Bergman said afterwards. “We could have been down 5–2 so we had to win that.”
Their victory kept USA within reach. By the end of the day, the teams were level at 5–5.
Two days later, USA completed an 11–8 victory. Bergman had been due to face Niels Feijen if the contest continued, but his teammates finished the job before he was needed.
“I was ready to play but I told the guys to finish them off,” he said after the triumph.
It was a title won through individual contributions and the confidence that someone else in the team could deliver the next point.
An interrupted defence
Bergman was selected again in 2020, but a positive COVID-19 test ruled him out before the competition. His selection that year did not become another playing appearance.
He now returns to a different American challenge. Europe have won each of the six editions since USA’s 2019 success, and Ruysink is back to lead the attempt to end that run.
Bergman brings experience of the occasion and of working with the captain. Their shared history provides a starting point for preparation, with the demands of this year’s contest still to be met.
Fine-tuning for Orlando
Discussing the squad, Ruysink stressed that the players understand the international standard and know the opposition they will face. His focus is on fine-tuning a group whose games are already familiar to him.
A boot camp will provide four or five days of intensive practice before the Mosconi Cup. The aim is to arrive ready to make the most of limited chances and keep mistakes to a minimum.
For Bergman, that preparation leads back to an arena in which he has already experienced the reward of winning for his country. Seven years on from Las Vegas, he has the opportunity to help deliver another American celebration.
The 2026 Mosconi Cup takes place from 27–30 November at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Book your Mosconi Cup tickets to see Bergman’s return and support Team USA on home soil.
