The last big day of the round is today, and we will try to fit as much as possible into this day so there's less gaming and more administrative work for tomorrow. Depending on how all of that goes, we'll have fresh, third round action on Sunday or Monday.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Goldy. The day starts with a Survival series in the morning. Golden's Dusty played strong game from the start, as Everton's Goldy took a couple of shots to get comfortable, and Dusty played the positioning game from then on to take a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Goldy tied the series with a win in game 2, netting two extra lives that she held onto without missing a shot after the break while the Pilots' Dusty couldn't quite find the sweet spot on her strokes. For the third straight game in the series, game 3 ended on the first shot of the second rack, with Goldy this time electing to try at the spare ball remaining instead of the breakup shot, but without the result changing, allowing a dominant Dusty to pull into a 2-1 series lead in the very rhythmic series. Just as the patterned emerged, it disappeared, as Dusty again lacked the precision shooting that has made her into a legend of the league, and Goldy got away with some lucky shots (a double-pot with the 3 in the bottom side and the 14 in the bottom left being the highlight) to retie the series again at 2 games apiece. Dusty and Goldy dueled effectively in game 5, battling to stay on top, but Dusty had the advantage heading into the second rack, and milked it for all it was worth, avoiding disturbing the pristine rack and using it instead as a defensive ploy just weak enough to give Goldy hope of making the free 6, but just strong enough to make it unlikely. This strategy worked, as Dusty won with the rack intact, for a 3-2 series win. Ranked #9 in Survival, Dusty will welcome Whiskers of the Infinity City Torpedoes to this venue in the third round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Cheddar v. Acorn. The next series is in 10-ball to get the afternoon going. Lighton's Acorn struck first in the back-and-forth game 1, making two balls at the end to take a 1-0 series lead. Whitewater's Cheddar appeared set to run out, but she couldn't corral the 9 into the top right, allowing Acorn of the Prestige the opportunity instead. The Shores' Cheddar got lucky in game 2, as her three-ball run ended on an uncalled make, allowing Acorn to take possession. He made the 9, but had no plan for the 10, and it set up nicely for Cheddar to the top side for the equalizer, tying the series at 1. Acorn shot back as Cheddar saw a three-ball run end in a scratch in game 3, giving Acorn a tap-in to the bottom right on the 10 for a 2-1 lead. Acorn struck back as Cheddar couldn't convert on the 6 after taking possession, giving Acorn the easy make on the 6 plus a set-up on the 7, which he drove two rails into the top side, while also caroming the cue to push the 10 into the bottom left for the win and the 3-1 series lead. Cheddar did most of the work in game 5, running seven balls early and making two of the last three, but not the one that counts, as Acorn mopped up the 10 to win the game and series 4-1. Acorn, ranked #37 in 10-ball, will host Jake of the Royal Crowns in the third round at Pepsi Arena in Lighton, his home table.
Ebay Center, Queens: Crystal v. Spirit. We're back to likely the last Survival of the day, unless we go big with the games tonight. Game 1 went very well, lasting deep into the second rack. Lighton's Spirit rarely missed, leaving just two shots outside the pocket. Queens' Crystal missed more, as the Prestige's Spirit eventually won, but the Flames' Crystal held her own through much of the first rack and only tailed away on a clutter second rack, falling behind 1-0. In game 2, Spirit built up a lead with two on the break and a double-pot on her second turn, going up three balls, which shook Crystal to her core, causing her to miss almost all of her shots and lose very quickly, giving Spirit a 2-0 lead. Spirit used the lure trick in game 3, tying the game with Crystal at four lives each and leaving a decent but oddly angled shot on the 8 that Crystal missed and Spirit cleaned up, allowing her to casually push Crystal back the rest of the game, until a breakup shot on the second rack went fruitless and allowed Spirit to clinch at 3-0 with the win. Crystal avoided the sweep with an impressive game 4 win, taking control after Spirit attempted to leave the cue clustered on the soft breakup, which failed as Crystal got the 5 to the top left. Spirit then missed three more shots as Crystal ran the pace of play and implemented stellar defense. Crystal and Spirit sparred at one life each until Spirit was left with no good shot and couldn't convert the 8 anywhere for an extra life. Spirit answered back with another dominant win in game 5, although Crystal twice made gasps to stay in it, but ultimately faltered. Ranked #44 in Survival, Spirit will host Chicky Phil of the Westside Rockers at Pepsi Arena in Lighton.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Sparkles. In 10-ball again, we head out to the coast. Game 1 went in sloppy fashion, as many shots taken were not very clean or easy. Near the end, Todavía's Sparkles thought she had a chance to win it on her final run, but she left the 10 short at the top right. From distance, Pacific's Starlight spun the cue to the 10, knocking it in but managing to keep the cue out as so few tend to do on similar shots, taking a 1-0 lead in the process. The Stills' Sparkles thought she had game 2 in the bag, but her four-ball run ended with a miss on the 10, and after another miss, the Volcanoes' Starlight knocked it to the top left to go up 2-0 in the series. Starlight overcame her carom off the 4 on the 10 to the top left getting erased by a scratch by finishing with a four-ball run-out to clinch the series at 3-0. Sparkles got on the board with a three-ball run-out in game 4, coming after Starlight got a little too fancy on her attempt at the 7. Sparkles made two of the three shots from medium to long distance, adding to the impressive factor. Starlight answered in game 5, a sloppier game after a bad break, making the final two shots to win the series 4-1. Starlight, ranked #74 in 10-ball, will host Twinkie I of the Lighton Prestige at this venue in the third round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Smokey. We're onto 12-ball in the southeast, between two highly competitive players. True to form, Royal's Jake stayed relentless even as Diamond's Smokey appeared set up for the game, pushing the 6 aside with his 11 to flip control of the game and earn a 1-0 for the Crowns' Jake. Jake just beat the Gems' Smokey to the punch in game 2, holding defense at the top right and making a kick shot on it to win the game just after Smokey got set up on his remaining shots. Jake gave up a wild card ball late in game 3, but since it is a shot that doesn't cost a turn as long as the player makes one of their own (in this case, 5 to the top right), he was able to then convert the 2 to the pocket he just made wide open to clinch the series at 3-0. Smokey got on the board in game 4, outmaneuvering Jake in very little time to make the series 3-1 after the strong, yet meaningless, showing. Jake answered right back with a brilliantly-executed game 5, using a three-ball run and strong accuracy to take the series by a 4-1 final. The #27 ranked 12-ball player, Jake will host Stripes in this very venue in the third round. Jake earned his first kill by knocking Smokey out of the tournament, and Smokey had previously eliminated Alyssa of the Westside Rockers. As an editor's note, do not expect me to remember who knocked out who, but Smokey recorded the first elimination and is now out, which is significant. Smokey will likely remain as captain of the Diamond Gems due to a strong cricket effort.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Jasmine. Back on the coast, the games shift to 9-ball. Freedom's Jasmine went on a three-ball run late in game 1, but it ended with a scratch as she tried to position on the 9, which gave Snuggle of Oceanside the win on the easy tap-in. The Cascades' Jasmine got visibly frustrated at the end of game 2, after having three chances throughout the game to put the 9 in motion and not see it fall, only to have the Waves' Snuggle mop up the remnants of her third attempt to take a 2-0 lead for himself. Snuggle had a magnificent kick off the bottom rail to score the 7 in the top right, the only problem being that was illegal contact with the 5 on the table. Jasmine took the ball-in-hand and ran the final three balls out with strong positioning to cut her deficit to 2-1. Snuggle had a three-ball run-out in game 4 after Jasmine's scratch, using similar positioning tactics to secure the series at 3-1. The players exchanged scratches late in game 5, with Snuggle's coming after a ball-in-hand situation he attempted to gain position from. Jasmine closed with a three-ball run-out. Snuggle, ranked #44 in 9-ball, took the series 3-2, and he will travel to Del Sur, where Shannon of the Southern Monarchs awaits him at the Microsoft Center in the third round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Bright v. Starlight. In this series, the silver cue will step in for the red cue one last time in the round. Pacific's Starlight got too desperate in game 1, taking a poor angle on the 8 after Tysini's Bright ran four balls to make it a tighter game. The Volcanoes' Starlight scratched as she made the 8, resulting in the Hummingbirds' Bright going up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 remained very close until the end, where a four-ball run-out by Starlight tied the series after both players had spent time working on positioning. Starlight nearly blew it in game 3, making the same mistake she did against Stripes in 12-ball by trying to toy around the 8 too much when she had it set up. Luckily for her, she held on for a 2-1 win as Bright couldn't strike back quickly enough with his remaining balls on the table. Both players had four-ball runs early in game 4, but Bright established more lasting success, and ended up winning the game when the next four went down a little bit easier for him than Starlight, who was also set back by a scratch. This win by Bright tied the series at 2. Starlight dominated throughout game 5, pushing the silver cue to its limits to obtain the win, as Bright just did not have any accuracy, nor any reasonably good shots to work with. Starlight, ranked #44, won the series 3-2, and she will host the Swordpoint Blades' Dreamy in round three at the Verizon Field Events Center in Pacific.
Apple Center, Todavía: Leonardo v. A. Charlton. Out on the coast, the game is 10-ball, with the silver cue sticking around to cover the blue cue one more time. Golden's Charlton found the highlight reel (we haven't seen that in awhile) with a double-pot in game 1, cutting the 6 into the bottom side and getting the cue to drill the 9 off the right rail hard enough to bring it to the top left successfully. Impressive as it was, it did not win the game, and Charlton's shot on the 10 was left short at the bottom right, giving Todavía's Leonardo the tap-in to go up 1-0 in the series. Charlton tied the series for the Pilots, taking advantage of the Stills' Leonardo not calling the right pocket on the 8. Charlton elected to shoot and finished off the last two balls with ease. Charlton took a 2-1 series lead after Leonardo couldn't make a bank shot on the 10, leaving it in decent position (a bit far from the pocket, but straight) for Charlton to knock home in the top left. Charlton clinched the series with a four-ball run-out in game 4, coming after both players struggled on shots from all distances earlier in the game. Charlton was an absolute wrecking ball in game 5, winning after completing an eight-ball run-out on her second turn, flashing total dominance to take a 4-1 series win. Ranked #114 for 10-ball, Charlton is through to the third round, where she will travel to Lay's Field Events Center to oppose the Victoria Spurs' Tori.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Stripes v. Cleo. The red cue makes one appearance before a long layoff leading up to its finale, playing 15-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Stripes took an inconsistent game 1, with a little help as Cleo of Everton left the 15 short at the bottom side to make it a little easier on Stripes. The shooting was inaccurate on both sides. The Meteors' Stripes won game 2, potting the last five balls over two turns, and again an error from the Eagles' Cleo contributed. Cleo missed contact on the 15, allowing Stripes another tap-in to the top side for a 2-0 lead. Game 3 was a messy affair, with easy shots missed the few times they came around. In the end, Cleo managed to cut the 15 to the top right to pull the series to 2-1, but it was not a pretty game at all. Game 4 went much more smoothly, as the shots that should be made were made, although running any together proved difficult again. Nonetheless, Cleo came out on top with the final two shots after Stripes couldn't corral the 12, tying the series at 2. Stripes appeared in control late in game 5, working a three-ball run, but it ended on a failed bank of the 14, and Cleo cleaned up with favorable positioning for a 3-2 series win. Cleo, ranked #66 in 15-ball, will travel to Capital City SuperCenter to oppose Dani of the Sharpshooters in the third round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Panda. The blue cue begins a stretch of nine straight series with this southeast battle in 8-ball. Panda took game 1 for Southern with a three-ball run-out, after using a four-ball run to establish a bit of control after Queens' Max had a strong start. The Flames' Max got tricky in game 2, finishing with a three-ball run-out with only bank shots included. First, he chose a hard bank off the bottom rail to nab the 6 in the top side. Then, he attempted to cut the 1 into the top side, but it bounced off the edge of the pocket and bounced out to the bottom right. Finally, Max won with a soft bank on the 8 from bottom rail to top side to tie the series. In game 3, Max expertly caromed the cue off the 4 instead of going for the 2 directly, potting it in the top left as part of a five-ball run. Panda of the Monarchs nearly took the lead back with a late three-ball run, but he missed the 8 on a kick attempt to the bottom left, allowing Max an easy tap-in to go up 2-1. Panda did tie the series again in game 4, overcoming a four-ball run from Max with a six-ball run-out as positioning was the name of the game. Game 5 ran as a very cautious game compared to the rest of the series, and it was Max coming out on top for the 3-2 series victory after careful consideration. Max, ranked #18 in 8-ball, plays the equally-ranked Missy of the Capital City Sharpshooters in this venue based on the qualifiers tiebreaker for rankings for their third round matchup.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Bright v. Snowball. Next up, we have 10-ball from the southwest. Swordpoint's Snowball struck big in game 1, running six balls on five shots. After the third shot, Bright of Tysini elected to defer possession back to the Blades' Snowball, who then potted the 3 on a cut and caromed the 4 into the bottom left while the 10 used to carom the 4 ended up in the top left for a legal win and 1-0 lead. Snowball packed the highlight reel again, going on a six-ball run early and ending with the final two shots, including a crisp kick on the 10 to the top left as it was just slightly off the rail, taking a 2-0 lead in dominant fashion. Snowball also excelled defensively, using that particular skill set to frustrate and aggravate the Hummingbirds' Bright throughout game 3, to the point of victory for Snowball yet again, clinching the series at 3-0. Bright got on the board in a very loosely contested game 4, but the game produced no major highlights. Bright finished game 5 on a three-ball run-out, capitalizing on a previous incorrect decision by Snowball to defer possession. The series ended 3-2 in favor of the #76 ranked Snowball, who will now welcome Twilight of the Central Warriors to the Gillette Center in Swordpoint for a third round battle.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Rainmane v. Starlight. We have a doubleheader of 15-ball, the first game from the northeast. Pacific's Starlight pulled off a five-ball run in game 1, including a double-pot that saw the 10 go on an unlikely bank to the top side, while the 13 found refuge in the bottom right. Web City's Rainmane took the game though, as Starlight's run-ending miss on the 14 set the Spiders' Rainmane up for a two-shot finish to go up 1-0 in the series. Rainmane took a 2-0 series lead with an impressive kick that the Volcanoes' Starlight had also spotted but never got a chance to take. Starlight left the 5 short at the bottom right, which gave Rainmane an easy shot, but the positioning was unfavorable. Rainmane, in desperation, kicked off the bottom rail, somehow avoiding the 9 protecting the 6, and turning the shot into a kick combination of the 6-15 variety to the top left, a surefire top-10 highlight. Starlight eventually got game 3 moving with a five-ball run, but Rainmane, and later had a four-ball run, but Rainmane got the important shot on the 15 after Starlight left it short at the bottom right, with Rainmane clinching the series at 3-0. Rainmane took a very sloppy game 4, with neither player shooting with much control or effort, resulting in a lot of frustrating misses. Starlight saved some face in game 5, winning on a three-ball run-out. Rainmane took the series 4-1, and will travel in the third round to Atlantic, where Amber of the Pirates awaits in McDonald's Hall.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Cheddar v. Robyn. The other half of the doubleheader takes us west a bit for more 15-ball. Cheddar of Whitewater took a fast-paced game 1 over Eastside's Robyn, ending the back-and-forth game with a bank on the 15 from the bottom rail to the top left. The Shores' Cheddar cashed in on a missed shot on the 15 by the Sharks' Robyn, tapping it into the top left for a 2-0 series lead in the first ever game played under only two lights after the left end light went out. Cheddar continued the lights-out play (that was a stretch, but given the light going out, it had to be said), winning game 3 in the final two shots, in an otherwise unremarkable game. Cheddar clinched the series at 3-0. Cheddar took a solid win in game 4, again mopping up a miss on the 15 by Robyn, who this time attempted a bank off the left rail to the top right, which was wide, but wide enough to give it a shot at the top left, where it rattled out favorable for Cheddar to go up 4-0. Robyn got one back late, taking a creatively-shot game 5 with decent positioning. The series ended 4-1, with Cheddar advancing her #19 ranked 15-ball bid to oppose the Spurs' Brooke at Lay's Field Events Center in Victoria.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Stripes v. Valencia. We're back to 10-ball for the first full series under less than full light. Viewpoint Sound's Stripes impressed immediately in game 1, making the highlight reel after Golden's Valencia left a favorable shot. Stripes of the Meteors hit the 1, aiming to carom to knock the 10 in the top left, but the cue was frozen on the rail. Stripes compensated with a little more shot energy, and got the cue to stop on the edge of the pocket for the win as the 10 fell, and the 6 went down for icing on the cake into the bottom right. The Pilots' Valencia answered back in a big way in game 2, taking possession after Stripes' break and never letting it go as she scored a ten-ball run-out with absolutely superb positioning and execution to tie the series. Valencia charged to a 2-1 series lead in game 3, despite getting out-possessed early on. Valencia did recover well, making the final three balls over a lot of turns as the 9 proved stubborn to pot. Stripes tied the series again in a sloppy game 4, winning after Valencia scratched, allowing Stripes to tap in on the 10 anywhere she pleased for the equalizer. Valencia ended up better off in the end, winning the series 3-2 after being the one to sink the 9 and get the 10 on a tap-in to the top side after it was so conveniently set up there earlier in the game. Valencia advances with her unlikely run on her #123 ranked 10-ball bid to the third round against Crystal at Ebay Center in Queens.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Rainmane v. Princess. The next two series compose another doubleheader, the final such occurrence in the second round, with Survival being the game of choice. Web City's Rainmane struck first in the series, outplaying Tysini's Princess after the latter made a critical mistake by trying to get crafty and defensive at the start of the second rack. It cost the Hummingbirds' Princess when the Spiders' Rainmane worked out of the defense. Princess tied the series with a strong showing in game 2, holding onto her lives early as Rainmane had the lead, and then grinding Rainmane down later. Rainmane looked to hold on, but the breakup shot on the second rack did her no favors, resulting in the 1-1 series. Princess played smartly in game 3, using a defensive technique as Rainmane chipped another shot to go down to one life. Princess drove the 15 to right rail, leaving the cue in a bad spot for the two remaining balls, and Rainmane then failed to make contact to give Princess the win and a 2-1 lead. Rainmane tied the series in game 4, a very tight game up until the end, with just enough inconsistency to make it interesting. In game 5, the lead exchanged hands frequently in the early going, but Princess eventually held onto it tight, and finally induced a couple of misses from Rainmane to take the series 3-2. Princess, ranked #47 in Survival, will host Shelley of the Infinity City Torpedoes in the third round at Cisco Arena in Tysini.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Twinkie I. In this Survival second round finale, two Prestige teammates do battle. Game 1 ended up getting very tight, very quick, and in the end Twinkie I took a 1-0 lead after Acorn tried a little too hard to stay alive with the 1, probably about five shots after it became a necessary task to succeed. Acorn again held on for a long time in game 2, but as soon as Twinkie I came down to his level, he lost his chance for a clear shot and allowed Twinkie I to go to 2-0 in the series. Game 3 was a disaster for Acorn, as he couldn't sink a ball early, and Twinkie I was in good enough form to prevent him from making a comeback, eventually losing the series with a one-rack loss as Twinkie I went to 3-0. Acorn avoided the sweep with a convincing win in game 4, dominating possession early on until he could fade ever so slightly in a defensive posture to prevent Twinkie I from charging back. Acorn also won game 5, starting out strong and getting a little friendly help from his teammate to speed up the process. Twinkie I, ranked #126, won the series 3-2, and will travel to Del Sur to play Panda of the Southern Monarchs in the third round at the Microsoft Center.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Twilight. Pearl's Neopolitan dominated possession in game 1, making six of the seven balls to take a 1-0 lead over Central's Twilight. In game 2, a sloppier game all around, the Surfers' Neopolitan still seemed to retain a lot of possession, but her late miss on the 7 allowed the Warriors' Twilight to tap it in and tie the series at 1 game apiece. Neopolitan retook the series lead after game 3 at 2-1, using a well-positioned five-ball run-out as her critical piece of the puzzle for this particular victory, as she continues to dominate Twilight in possession. Neopolitan claimed the series with a game 4 win, another possession-centered effort. Twilight made it 3-2 in game 5 with a lucky win, vulturing the 7 away again. Neopolitan, ranked #15, hosts Dreamy of the Swordpoint Blades at this venue in the third round.
That's all 85 games for today. Tomorrow, there are 10, and the rest of the day will be administrative in nature.
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