Tempers flared at the Mosconi Cup, pool’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup, with Team Europe’s Jayson Shaw making an obscene gesture towards a fan in the audience and confronting them.
Shaw captained Europe to an 11-6 victory in last year’s edition and was also in fine form on Wednesday as his side powered to a 4-0 lead on the opening night at London’s Alexandra Palace.
But the pool itself - conducted in a heavily partisan, Ryder Cup-style atmosphere - was overshadowed by the Scot confronting a fan in the stands during his match against Skyler Woodward.
Shaw made an obsence gesture and went on an expletive-laden rant in the direction of the fan, although it was unclear what provoked him.
He continued to speak to the spectator, pointing his cue in their direction, and pointed them out to staff members of Team USA, appearing to complain. It was unclear whether the spectator was removed.
WOW! 😳
— Matchroom Pool (@MatchroomPool) December 3, 2025
Jayson Shaw is not happy with somebody in the crowd 👀🍿#MosconiCup 🇪🇺🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/z63n2RkMMT
USA captain Woodward looked amused by the incident, but it had no effect on the outcome, with Shaw winning the match 5-2 to give Europe a 3-0 lead.
Europe are aiming for a sixth title in a row having won 15 of 18 Mosconi Cups since 2007. Shaw, a seven-time champion, told Sky Sports before the start of the event: “I don't think they will stop the rot. The same five last year got beat convincingly so I think we know what to do.
“We play our game and get in front, they'll crumble. They do it all the time. We can see it in their faces - that's the difference between us and them!
“You'll be seeing me strutting my stuff and doing my thing. I'll be doing my Jayson Shaw thing. We'll win 11-6. I can't see them getting past six.
“We're here to win - they're here to get paid.”
