Here's the results from the first set of games in the 2015 UPCL Pool Tournament's second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Cubby v. Blizzard. The second round starts off much as the first round did, with a set of 10-ball games. Maplewood's Cubby weathered the first game, watching Everton's Blizzard fail to complete a five-ball run to end the game, and then buried the 10-ball for the early advantage. The Lumberjacks' newcomer Cubby secured game 2 as the Eagles' Blizzard jammed the 9 out of the top side pocket. Cubby extended his series lead to 2-0 with a two-shot run-out, putting the pinch on for the series. Blizzard took game 3, but it wasn't without drama. After a strong break by Cubby, the 10-ball rested just outside the top-left pocket, but Cubby would squander the set-up play later with an illegally potted ball. After some back and forth play, it was Blizzard with the three-ball run to steal a game for the Eagles. Blizzard tied the series at 2 in game 4, although it was a sloppy game aimed more to the defensive player. After many errors, Blizzard came through with a short-side bank on the 10 into the top side pocket for the leveling game. Game 5 was another sloppy game, but it was Cubby who prevailed in the end with the last two shots, including an impressive cut on the 10 for the 3-2 series win. The #62 overall player in 10-ball, Cubby, defends the home table and advances to round three.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Rainmane v. Wings. We head slightly south for a 9-ball series. Pearl's Wings got away with a poorly-shot game to open the series. Web City's Rainmane stationed the ball just outside of the top-left pocket while shooting the 6. After illegal contact, Wings misplayed the leave on the 7, but Rainmane squandered her chances, allowing Wings the 1-0 series lead on the run-out. Wings doubled the lead for the Surfers after Rainmane failed to close the game on a four-ball run-out, leaving the 9 wide right of the top left pocket for the easy 2-0 tap-in. Rainmane took advantage of the situation in game 3, earning the Spiders a win with a three-ball run-out after a scratch by the Surfers' Wings. Previously, Wings missed a combination opportunity on the 6-9. Rainmane did make a long 2-4 combination early in the game. Rainmane tied the series in game 4 with a crafty four-ball run out. The Spiders star may have gotten a bit lucky with the 8, which failed to combo the 9 in, but took two rails into the top side pocket with a good leave to finish off the 9 and bring the 2-2 series to a decisive game. Rainmane overcame two bank shots from Wings in game 5, icing off the final two balls to rally back for a 3-2 series win. The #27 ranked 9-ball player, Rainmane assures Web City will see third round action.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Smudge. A little farther to the south, we get to see the quick sport, 7-ball, be played. Queens' Max wasted no time in establishing a lead for the hosts, scoring the 7 on the break, as well as sinking the 6, to secure a 1-0 series lead without Smudge seeing the table. The Flames' Max got off to a good start with two more on game 2's break, but a pair of two-ball runs by Smudge gave Infinity City's captain the win. The Torpedoes' star's second run was most impressive, as Smudge curled around the 7 to sink the 2 in the bottom left corner before working with minimal space to smash-jam the 7 across the table into the top right corner, leveling the series at 1. Smudge ran out game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead on a mostly uneventful series of shots, ending with 4, 5, and 7 in relatively easy positions. Max got away with flubbing the 7 ball on his attempt at it, as Smudge put a little too much mustard on her shot and ended up scratching after the make, tying the series at 2. Smudge got the last laugh, working excellent positioning to run out the final five balls and take the series by a 3-2 margin. The #106 player for 7-ball, Smudge, continues an unlikely run into the third round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Neopolitan. We return for another 10-ball series back north. In game 1, it was Pearl's Neopolitan doing most of the work, including banking and caroming her way to a tough angle setup on the 10, which did not go down. Archtown's Dusky cashed in on the easy leave to score a 1-0 series lead early on. Neopolitan's hard work was more appreciated in game 2, a defensive struggle capped off by some brilliant carom usage. The Surfers' representative got set up after Dusky missed a shot on the 5. Neopolitan followed with a kick on the 5 that caromed the 6 into the top left pocket. Neopolitan iced off the 5 into the bottom side on the next shot, and then finished the game by calling the 10 in the lower right after a carom on the 7. The advanced shot succeeded, and collected the 8 ball in the top side as well, tying the series at 1. Neopolitan pulled herself ahead in the road series by icing another defensive game 3 with a 10-ball bank after Dusky potted it in the wrong pocket. Both players excelled with bank and kick shots in game 3, a characteristic fairly unique to UPCL 10-ball competitions. Dusky made quick work of game 4 for the Arrows, retying the series two shots after the break. Dusky buried the 1 in the bottom side, and then cut the 2 into the top left, with the kick-out driving the 10 across the table into the bottom right for a legal victory. The series headed to game 5 tied at 2. In game 5, Dusky won early on a 2-10 combination after Neopoltian's breakup shot illegally potted the 3 and turned possession over with favorable position. The #22 ranked 10-ball player puts an Arrows player on the third round bracket.
Finally, closing the second round's opening night, we see 8-ball action in Pounce v. Blizzard from Pepsi Arena in Lighton. This rivalry game is unique in that Pounce is Blizzard's father. Blizzard, of the Everton Eagles, cleaned the table up first over three turns, leaving just two out there before the Lighton Prestige's Pounce tied it. Neither had much finishing instinct, but it was Blizzard who finished it off after Pounce's miss on the 8. Blizzard won more comfortably to take a 2-0 series lead after game 2, using a three-shot run-out on solids and Pounce's failed chance to rally back as the keys to her victory. Blizzard clinched the series in game 3 with a comeback victory, but it was Pounce hogging the highlights with a double-pot shot on a 1 bank into the 2, which fell into the top side and redirected the 1 into the top right pocket. Blizzard's final effort in the game involved a three-shot series that clinched the game. This is where I mention UPCL rules dictate that all games in a series be played, even if the series is clinched before the final game. Blizzard continued her surge with a three-shot run-out in game 4, which was a sloppy game after a poor break. Blizzard completed the 5-0 series sweep using a five-shot run to get set for the 8, and capitalizing on Pounce's inability to answer with a run of his own. As such, the #78 ranked Blizzard continues her 8-ball campaign.
Tomorrow, we will bring a full day instead of just 25 games like tonight.
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