Today's Christmas Eve special begins with...
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Boots v. Juno. The first set is 7-ball with the blue cue. Southridge's Boots walked a fine line, favoring the side of brilliance over misfortune. She had a five-ball run-out in game 1, including a double-pot of the 3 (banked off the right rail and caromed off the 4 to the top side) and the 4 (sent to the top left), followed by a bank of the 5 to the bottom right before letting positioning take over and give her a 1-0 series lead over Modernistic's Juno. The Union's Juno didn't care much for luck, instead displaying her skill in game 2, running the table on her only turn to tie the series with the Defenders' Boots at 1. Juno made every ball in game 3 as well, not as dominantly but still good enough to earn a 2-1 series win. Juno, ranked #68 for 7-ball, will travel to Del Sur's Microsoft Center to oppose Kirstin of the Southern Monarchs in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Boots v. Strawberry: Boots is dealing with a home doubleheader, playing 12-ball with the blue cue now. Southridge's Boots had the edge in game 1, building up an effective lead and holding on as Pronger's Strawberry couldn't quite catch up, giving Boots a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Boots surrendered a wild card ball to the Tridents' Strawberry, but it all worked out as she was able to pot her last ball in the same pocket and secure the series at 2-0. Strawberry got game 3 with a three-ball run-out, but both players had very sharp shots and battled for a quick game. Boots won the series 2-1, and takes her #11 ranked 12-ball bid to host the Diamond Gems' Cassandra at this venue in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Alyssa v. Wings. The blue cue gets another set of 12-ball here for a game doubleheader. Oceanside's Alyssa had a very favorable break, making a five-ball run to start the game and leaving the 14 at the bottom right for her last shot, which she tapped in after Pearl's Wings couldn't catch her, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Wings ended up with a strategic scratch in game 2, as the Waves' Alyssa then missed contact, and Wings used the ball-in-hand for a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Alyssa had a slight edge as Wings needed to set up shots Alyssa already had down, helping her claim the game and a 2-1 series win. Ranked #10 for 12-ball, Alyssa will host Waves teammate Pounce at this venue in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Cheddar. Back south, the silver cue gets an appearance in 10-ball. Game 1 took a back-and-forth tilt to it, with Whitewater's Cheddar holding the slight edge in possession and the better timing, mopping up the 10 that Royal's Nightfur left up. Cheddar leads 1-0 in the series. Frustrations boiled over in game 2, but they quickly simmered. The Crowns' Nightfur managed to work a three-ball run-out, topping an inaccurate Cheddar of the Shores to tie the series at 1. Nightfur managed to take the infuriating series 2-1 with a three-ball run-out in game 3, stymieing an effort from Cheddar. Ranked #28 for 10-ball, Nightfur will host Capital City Sharpshooters captain Chris at this venue in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mr. Snowman v. Crystal. The silver cue stays up for a series of 8-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Mr. Snowman tried to get too fancy for contact after a seven-ball run from Queens' Crystal, and it failed, giving Crystal ball-in-hand on the 8 for an easy tap-in and a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mr. Snowman had a bad finish in game 2, missing the 8 and watching the Flames' Crystal run out the last three balls to take the game and clinch the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman did well on his finish for game 3, running out five balls, including a double-pot follow of the 12 and 14 to the bottom right, making it a 2-1 series win for Crystal. Ranked #73 for 8-ball, Crystal travels to Diamond's Intel Center to face Cassandra of the Gems in the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Cheddar. The blue cue is back for a series of Accuracy. Whitewater's Cheddar kept pace with Terrace City's Kiwi throughout the game, and then Kiwi missed on the last ball and Cheddar made it, winning 2-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Cheddar came out on top in game 2 as well, but it took overtime to do it. The Knights' Kiwi had the overtime break, but she didn't get anything, prompting Cheddar to convert the 6-2-15 combination to the bottom right for a 3-4 win and a 2-0 series lead. Cheddar buried Kiwi quite easily in game 3, forcing her into a handful of mistakes while limiting her own to win 1-3 and take the series in a 3-0 sweep. Ranked #60 for Accuracy, Cheddar will play in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Tigerette. Two of the most prominent league figures face off for 10-ball with the red cue to renew their clubs' deep rivalry. Lighton's Acorn dominated throughout game 1, frustrating Commerce's Tigerette with terrible leaves, and Acorn sealed the game on a three-ball run-out, all distance cut shots, for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn made three on the break and the last two in another dominant game 2. The Tradewinds' Tigerette twice forced Acorn to shoot after making uncalled shots, and this helped to increase his confidence, as he roared to a 2-0 series lead in the win. Acorn lacked the same dominance in game 3, and this allowed Tigerette to salvage a win, making it 2-1 Acorn for the series. Ranked #33 for 10-ball, Acorn heads to the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Lionel. The red cue is still in action for a series of Rotation. Commerce's Lionel got behind Archtown's Dusky very early in game 1, but he rallied back and won 8-5, ending with a distance shot on the 13 to the bottom left to make it a 1-0 series lead for himself. The Tradewinds' Lionel held a lead through the middle of game 2, but the ending was tangled, and the Arrows' Dusky emerged with an 8-7 win after banking the 14 diagonally to the top left off the bottom right rail section, tying the series at 1. Dusky stormed out to a big 8-2 win in game 3, earning a 2-1 series win. Dusky takes her #22 ranked Rotation bid to the second round, where she hosts the Pronger Tridents' Precious at this venue.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Chris. The blue cue gets another 12-ball series in the fast-moving bracket. Game 1 started in a roar and ended in a whisper, as Capital City's Chris watched his four-ball run be for naught when Web City's Shiny rallied back and defended the top left (which they both needed). After some jostling in a small space, Shiny got a glimpse and buried the 7 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shiny had a decent start to game 2, but she really capitalized on the Sharpshooters' Chris being out of position on many shots, working to take a 2-0 series lead with the win. In game 3, Chris did well to set up his shots, eventually jamming his 14 with Shiny's 7 at the top right. Shiny tried to defend, but Chris eventually poked it in and took the game. Shiny won the series 2-1, and her #7 ranked 12-ball campaign will host another Sharpshooter, Sprinkles, at this venue in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Valencia. The blue cue closes the short afternoon with 15-ball. Pearl's Wings held his own against Golden's Valencia in game 1, exchanging shots in an even meeting, and then Wings burst out with a four-ball run-out, giving him the 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia ended up getting the edge in another mediocre game, beating the Surfers' Wings on a two-ball run-out to make it a 1-1 series. Valencia controlled possession for much of game 3, but she lost it late, and Wings picked it up with a four-ball run-out to make it a 2-1 series win for himself. Wings advances to the second round as the #30 ranked 15-ball player.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Dominic. The silver cue gets an appearance in Accuracy to start the evening. Game 1 saw the players do pretty well, but Golden's Strut had just a little better run as Atlantic's Dominic faded late. Strut won 2-3, going up 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Strut made a couple of mistakes around a cluster, and while the Pirates' Dominic was far from perfect, he was good enough to hold on for a 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a little more sloppy, but Strut controlled it from the start, holding what ended as a 3-4 advantage over Dominic to win the series 2-1. Ranked #43 in Accuracy, Strut heads to the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Alyssa v. Lorde. The blue cue is back for 7-ball. Oceanside's Alyssa scratched on the break, allowing Commerce's Lorde to run four balls, but Alyssa bounced back with long cuts on the 6 and 7 for the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the circumstances were quite similar, as the Tradewinds' Lorde pieced together a four-ball run only to see the Waves' Alyssa take the game, this time with a double-kiss at the top left on the 7 to earn the 2-0 series lead. Lorde saved some face with a three-ball run-out to end game 3, making it a 2-1 series win for Alyssa. Ranked #11 in 7-ball, Alyssa is set to host the Central Warriors' Dustin at this venue in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Ice Cream v. Puff II. The silver cue gets another set of Accuracy now. Both players were perfect until halfway through overtime, when Commerce's Ice Cream miscued and missed her shot, losing 0-1 to Boston's relentless Puff II, who owns a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was far less clean, featuring misses in painful fashion for both players, but the Swifts' Puff II made two late mistakes. She missed the last ball, and that allowed the Tradewinds' Ice Cream to force overtime. In overtime, Puff II did a soft break, and Ice Cream shattered the mostly intact rack, scoring one to win 4-5 and tie the series at 1. Puff II played game 3 like it was game 1, while Ice Cream played like it was game 2, and that made it an easy win for Puff II, 1-5, and she took the series 2-1. Ranked #82 for Accuracy, Puff II heads to the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Snuggle. The blue cue gets its turn for Rotation now. Oceanside's Snuggle narrowly prevailed in game 1, rallying with a three-ball run to take the lead on Diamond's Citrus and then tapping in the 15 on his second try to win 8-7 for a 1-0 series lead in the tight game. The Gems' Citrus pulled out to a lead in game 2 as well, but she managed to hold off the Waves' Snuggle this time around, keeping him at arm's length in an 8-6 win to tie the series at 1. Citrus parlayed a five-ball run early on into an 8-6 win after Snuggle made it interesting near the end of the game. Citrus took the series 2-1, advancing her #13 ranked Rotation bid to the second round, where she'll bring in Lighton Prestige star Spirit to this venue.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Bright v. Twinkie II. The two cues continue to alternate, with the silver cue back again for 15-ball. Harrison's Twinkie II looked absolutely unbeatable for a bit in game 1, running seven balls and generally dominating the middle to late parts of the game. She missed the 15 short at the top right, allowing Tysini's Bright the tap-in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II had a problem with shooting light in game 2, leaving a few easy shots for the Hummingbirds' Bright, and he used those plus a five-ball run early on to pace his attack. Twinkie II left the 15 short again as well, and Bright scored it for a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Bright was doing well until the 10, which he couldn't land contact on. Twinkie II iced the game by double-potting the 10 to the top right and the 15 to the bottom right for the win. Bright, ranked #17 for 15-ball, heads to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Cheddar v. Jennifer Livilotti. A former Shore returns to her previous home for Rotation with the red cue against an old teammate. Whitewater's Cheddar fell behind early in game 1, and she made a very bold comeback attempt, but Terrace City's Jennifer secured the game 8-6 and took a 1-0 series lead in the process with a composed effort. The Knights' Jennifer had a highlight in game 2, scoring the 9 on a spinning cut to the bottom left, tying the game at 5. On her next turn, she had a three-ball run-out to complete the come from behind 8-6 win over the Shores' Cheddar, good for a 2-0 series lead. Cheddar kept control in game 3, eventually working her way to an 8-6 win despite a sharp comeback attempt from Jennifer. Ranked #85 for Rotation, Jennifer will travel to Diamond's Intel Center to play Gems captain Smokey in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Shadow. The red cue is up again for 7-ball, as a son-in-law hosts his father-in-law and soon-to-be grandparent of the former's children. Web City's Shadow had a perfectly acceptable three-ball run in game 1, but Boston's Gradley countered with a four-ball run-out with precision shooting for the 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shadow did a little more in game 2, working long shots for most of the game with ease. The Swifts' Gradley did what he could, but Shadow rallied for a four-ball run-out, tying the series at 1. Shadow thought he would capitalize on Gradley missing the 7 at the end of a three-ball run, but he left it short at the top right, allowing Gradley the second chance to tap it in and win the series 2-1. Ranked #32 for 7-ball, Gradley advances to the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Paige v. Sleepy B. The day will end with 9-ball and the blue cue. Queens' Paige didn't have a lot of luck with the ball in game 1, and that was amplified when Archtown's Sleepy B. ran out the last four balls, including double-potting the 7 to the top right and 8 to the bottom right to take a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sleepy B. potted three on the break in an opening six-ball run, and when the Flames' Paige made her only miss, Sleepy B. ended the game to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 was fairly even, with Sleepy B. missing a cut on the 9 while Paige made it for the win, putting the series at 2-1 for Sleepy B. Ranked #66 for 9-ball, Sleepy B. will play in the second round.
Tomorrow and Saturday's action may be combined into one post.
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