We’re back with day three of the
round. We’re experiencing Internet connectivity issues, so this will be
released late. We begin with…
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v.
Sprinkles. The blue cue leads the day off with 15-ball. Game 1 saw both players
come in a bit antsy from the start. Capital City’s Sprinkles ended up making a
critical error, missing a cut on the 9 and illegally potting the 15, giving
Infinity’s Smudge a free win for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes’ Smudge fully
earned her game 2 win, answering a three-ball run from the Sharpshooters’
Sprinkles with an effective 3-15 kick combination to the top left to get the
win and a 2-0 series lead. Smudge had a bad scratch when she mishit her shot on
the 12 toward the bottom side in game 3. Sprinkles pieced together a three-ball
run, but missed the 15, and Smudge picked it up to take the game and secure the
series at 3-0. Sprinkles found a highlight reel shot, making the 1-6-9-5 to the
bottom right in game 4. Sprinkles played well throughout, including a late
four-ball run. However, she scratched after the 13, trying valiantly to get
position on the 14, and she lost when Smudge made the last two shots from
ball-in-hand for the win that made it 4-0 in the series. Smudge completed the
sweep by finishing game 5 on a 5-14-15 combination to the top right, with a
favorable bounce off the 10 by the 5. Smudge won the series 5-0, and her #93
ranked 15-ball bid heads into the bracket semifinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur:
Kirstin v. Shiny. The red cue is up for a series of Rotation out on the coast. Web
City’s Shiny never left anything to doubt in game 1, hardly letting Southern’s
Kirstin look at the table let alone shoot. Shiny rallied early and late to an
8-1 win for a 1-0 series lead in dominant form. The Spiders’ Shiny made an
impressive rally in game 2, going up early and then ceding her lead to the
Monarchs’ Kirstin before battling back for an 8-6 win to make it 2-0 in the
series. Kirstin did play better, but ultimately came up short. Kirstin hit the
highlight reel with a double-pot in game 3, using a 2-11 combination at the top
left and a carom to take the 5-7 combination at the bottom side. This was part
of her opening four-ball run, which paced a strong attack that ended with her
beating Shiny 8-2 in the game, cutting the series to 2-1. Kirstin had
everything lined up for the win, but she put too much mustard on the hot dog,
scratching as she potted the 7. This allowed Shiny to rally all the way back,
winning with a six-ball run-out for an 8-7 win to clinch the series at 3-1. Kirstin
came out strong again in game 5, and nearly blew it again, but was able to get
a vicious kick on the 13 to the bottom right to win 8-5. Shiny still won the
series 3-2, and the #29 ranked Rotation player heads into the bracket
semifinals.
HP Field Events Center, Eastside:
Graham v. Juno. The red cue stays on for a series of 9-ball. Eastside’s Graham
had a very poor angle for his shot at the 7 in game 1, and his missed contact
allowed Modernistic’s Juno to play from ball-in-hand, where she made the last
two shots to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks’ Graham had another
golden chance in game 2, working a three-ball run before whiffing on the 9. The
Union’s Juno struck it from a similar distance to the bottom left for the win,
upping her series lead to 2-0. Juno had a three-ball run at the start of game
3, looking to keep the pressure on Graham strong. He broke out of it with a
clever shot, drilling the 4 toward the bottom right but getting the 9 to bounce
off the 6 and into the top side for the win, cutting the series to 2-1. Juno
couldn’t finish off game 4 either, watching her three-ball run end in a scratch
due to a bad angle on the 9. Graham potted it from ball-in-hand to tie the
series at 2. Juno needed a simple three-ball run-out to win game 5 early,
potting the 1-3 combination to the bottom right, and then the 1 in the same
spot, before caroming the cue off the 2 to make a 7-9 combination in the top
right, taking the game and the series 3-2. Ranked #79 for 9-ball, Juno advances
to the bracket semifinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Nicole
v. Bryant. The red cue continues a short tour with this Accuracy series.
Southern’s Nicole was equal parts brilliant and unlucky in game 1, forcing
overtime and then scratching on her first shot to extend it. Maplewood’s Bryant
was flawless on the extra rack, and Nicole couldn’t keep up, losing 2-3 as
Bryant takes a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks’ Bryant wasn’t as good in game
2, slipping up a bit at the end but surviving to win 4-5 when the Monarchs’
Nicole missed her final shot. This gave Bryant a 2-0 series lead. Bryant fell
apart due to his bad break in game 3, leaving him with few good shots. Nicole
didn’t play well either, but she held a lead for most of the game and took the
win 4-5, making it a 2-1 lead in the series for Bryant. Game 4 started off very
tight, but a scratch by Nicole put Bryant in firm control from there on, and he
coasted to a 1-4 win, sealing the series at 3-1. Bryant had another bad break
in game 5, but he came out on the right side of it this time, winning 4-6 after
Nicole threw all she had late in the game to no avail. Bryant is ranked #74 in
Accuracy, and will be on the road again for the bracket semifinals round.
Nicole is the 36th player eliminated from the tournament, and Bryant
has his second kill after the series went final.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v.
Starlight. The red cue wraps up its tour with 12-ball. Pronger’s Precious
started with a sharp four-ball run in game 1, but couldn’t seal the deal
against Pacific’s Starlight, who rallied on two turns, even surrendering a wild
card ball in the process, to steal the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 played
out in a wide-open way, with the Volcanoes’ Starlight starting well on the
break but the Tridents’ Precious earning good positioning late in the game. A
missed contact gave Starlight ball-in-hand, but she couldn’t bank the 4 to the
bottom side, and Precious cleared her last ball to win, tying the series at 1. Precious
overcame giving up a late wild card ball to Starlight in game 3, but mostly
because Starlight had a bad shot on her final ball, allowing Precious to finish
the game off and pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Precious had a wild card ball
aiding her efforts in game 4, but she still let Starlight close quite a bit of
the gap before kicking the 6 off the bottom rail to the top side for the win,
clinching the series at 3-1. Precious completed the series with a 4-1 win,
coming from behind with a big cluster-buster to get herself set, and then
patient brilliance as Starlight was stagnant in game 5. Ranked #83 in 12-ball,
Precious has momentum going into the bracket semifinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Lydia v.
Bryant: The blue cue is back in action for this 10-ball series. Lighton’s Lydia
got off to a complicated start in game 1, and Maplewood’s Bryant failed to take
advantage of the confusing shots, eventually allowing Lydia a three-ball
run-out for her win that gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige’s Lydia came
out with more conviction in game 2, shooting a four-ball run to start. She
nearly iced the game on another run, but she scratched on the 9, and the
Lumberjacks’ Bryant took the 10 from ball-in-hand for the win, tying the series
at 1. Lydia stayed confident in game 3, working a five-ball run early on that
sent Bryant reeling. He nearly got even in the end, hammering the 10 toward the
top right, but it rattled out and Lydia tapped it in to win and reclaim a
series lead at 2-1. Lydia didn’t have as good of a game as before, but a late
three-ball run and defensive positioning buried Bryant, who scratched to set
Lydia up for the finish, and she completed it for a win and a 3-1 lead in the
series. Bryant got one last parting shot in, scoring a five-ball run-out in
game 5 to steal a late win. Lydia still took the series 3-2, and the #14 ranked
10-ball player will be in the bracket semifinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky
v. Paige. The silver cue makes it debut of the day in 10-ball. Archtown’s Dusky
had a wonderful start to game 1, hardly letting Queens’ Paige get a shot in,
and then Dusky closed the game on a well-shot five-ball run-out with good
positioning for the win that made it 1-0 in the series for her. The Flames’
Paige pulled herself back into the series with a quick win in game 2, using
ball-in-hand from the Arrows’ Dusky’s scratch to pot the 3-10 combination at
the top right, tying the series at 1. Dusky kept a level head in taking game 3,
countering Paige very effectively before breaking out for a four-ball run-out
to snag the win and retake the series lead at 2-1. Paige shot right back in an
eventful game 4. Dusky was working on a 6-10 combination to the top left, but
hit it a bit soft, leaving the 10 exposed. Paige ended up making the 6 instead
of the 10 with a shot off target. Dusky took over, potting the 7 and 8 but
failing to bank the 10 to the bottom side, where Paige tapped it in for the
win, tying the series again at 2. Dusky made a brilliant shot in game 5 to get the
win, burying the 3-8-10 combination with the 10 caroming off the 9 to fall in
the top right pocket, stunning Paige with the highlight reel shot as Dusky took
the series 3-2. The #1 10-ball player, Dusky will host another series in the
bracket semifinals. Paige is the 37th player eliminated from the
tournament with the loss, while Dusky earned her first kill of the year in a
thrilling series.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint:
Snowball v. Cheddar. The afternoon session ends with 12-ball and the silver
cue. Swordpoint’s Snowball started off a bit slow, but she got favorable
positions later in game 1, and Whitewater’s Cheddar was unable to line up her
last ball, paving the way to Snowball’s win and a 1-0 series lead. The Shores’
Cheddar had game 2 on her fingertips, but she scratched after an impressive
double-pot of the 4 and 2 to the right corners. In response, the Blades’
Snowball tapped in her meticulously set up last two balls for the win and a 2-0
series lead. Game 3 saw a frenetic middle segment sandwiched by very probing
shots. In that middle, Snowball turned in a four-ball run, answered by a
three-ball run from Cheddar. Snowball had a few mistakes after that, and
Cheddar cashed in with patient shooting to grab a win and make it 2-1 in the
series. Snowball led early on in game 4, undeterred by a good break from
Cheddar. This paid off, as Snowball confidently cued a three-ball run-out to
three of the four corners, with the final shot being a kick off the top rail to
take the 7 at the bottom left, making it a 3-1 series. Cheddar dazzled in game
5, rattling off a five-ball run and narrowly missing the full Monty, as the 13
was just out of her reach. Snowball didn’t have an answer, and Cheddar won on
the next turn. Snowball took the series 3-2, and the #53 ranked 12-ball player
will head out on the road in the bracket semifinals. Cheddar is the 38th
player to be knocked out this year, as one of these players was destined to be
done, with Snowball’s first kill buying her one more series.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl:
Wings v. Ruby. The blue cue begins the night with a series of 15-ball. Archtown’s
Ruby did not mess around in game 1, winning with an eight-ball run-out after
she tangled with Pearl’s Wings early in the game. The win gave Ruby a 1-0
series lead. Game 2 was played pretty well until the end, which saw the Arrows’
Ruby leave the 15 short at the top left, only for the Surfers’ Wings to shank
his shot and miss, allowing Ruby to get it on her second try, giving her a 2-0
series lead. Ruby was not so fortunate at the end of a sloppy game 3, missing
the 15 twice and watching Wings get rewarded for his patience with a fairly
easy tap-in on his second try, earning a win to make it 2-1 in the series. Ruby
missed many chances late in game 4 to snag a win, instead faltering and
failing, allowing Wings to tap the 15 in at the end, tying the series at 2. Game
5 saw both players battling pretty evenly throughout the game, neither ceding a
perfect shot until Wings missed contact on the 14. Ruby potted the 14 but got
pinned on the 15. She hammered it into the rail, and the deflection off of that
sent it in the top right for the win and a 3-2 series win. Ranked #71 in
15-ball, Ruby escaped with the luckiest of wins to make it to the bracket
semifinals. Wings finds himself as the 39th player eliminated this
year, the first kill to fall by Ruby’s cue.
Nestle’s Warriors Hall, Central:
Dustin v. Kirstin. The blue cue is in for its final series of the day, playing
7-ball. Central’s Dustin capitalized fully on a scratch by Southern’s Kirstin,
using the ensuing ball-in-hand for a quick three-ball run-out, winning game 1
for a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors’ Dustin had a significantly less smart
finish in game 2, ending it early as he illegally potted the 7 to the top side
on a failed kick, rewarding the Monarchs’ Kirstin with a win for her defense as
the series moved to a 1-1 tie. Kirstin milked Dustin’s mistake a little more in
game 3, winning on the break as she drove the 4 and 7 to the bottom right with
a little help from a ricocheting cue ball, which gave Kirstin the 2-1 series
lead. Dustin hit the highlight reel in game 4, making a long jump over the 5 to
pot the 4 in the bottom right, while the cue rolled along the top of the rail
before returning to the table. This was the last great shot, as Kirstin cleaned
up scraps to get the win, clinching the series at 3-1. Dustin rallied back for
a three-ball run-out after a cluttered start to game 5, but this only made it a
3-2 series win for Kirstin. The #56 ranked 7-ball player, Kirstin heads on the
road again in the bracket semifinals, playing in Mercedes-Benz Forum in
Harrison against the Specters’ Twinkie II.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny
v. Shelley. The silver cue is up for the last two series, beginning with this
15-ball set. Game 1 was not entirely impressive, but the pace was good. In the
end, it was Web City’s Shiny scratching after making the 15 that doomed her and
gave Infinity’s Shelley the win and 1-0 series lead after a close game. The
Spiders’ Shiny had the edge in possession in game 2, including make six of the
last eight, with a four-ball run and straight shots on the 14 and 15 that the
Torpedoes’ Shelley left on the left rail, allowing Shiny to tie the series at
1. Shiny had a three-ball run in game 3 come up just short, as her carom off
the 9 didn’t take the 15 as expected, and also resulted in a scratch.
Controversially, Shelley potted the 9-15 combination from range with the
ball-in-hand, winning to go up 2-1 in the series and provoking anger in the
home fans. Shiny answered with a similar tactic in game 4, using ball-in-hand
from a scratch to convert the 3-15 combination with a glancing hit off the 6 to
get the win. Shelley had made the 3-9-14 combination earlier in the game, but
Shiny got the winner, retying the series at 2 to the cheers of a now-intense
crowd. In game 5, Shiny tried to send the crowd home happy after a scratch from
Shelley, but she left the 8-15 combination attempt short at the top right, and
Shelley converted it on her turn for the win. Shelley took the series 3-2, and
the #48 ranked 15-ball player goes on to the bracket semifinals.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v.
Twinkie I. The final series of the day is 9-ball with the silver cue. Queens’
Max had very good pace in game 1, playing well above the level of Lighton’s
Twinkie I from break to finish, where he tapped the 9 in for the win and a 1-0
series lead after she had missed it. The Prestige’s Twinkie I got the upper
hand in the end of game 2, as both players jockeyed around the 7 and the 9. The
Flames’ Max missed it, leaving it set for Twinkie I to convert, and she did,
tying the series at 1. Game 3 ended up being a battle of short streaks, with
Max getting the late edge and potting the last two balls to snag the win away
from a sharp Twinkie I, giving Max the 2-1 series lead in a pivotal moment for
the series. Game 4 saw some sloppy finishing efforts, as Max missed a couple of
easy shots, most notably on the 9, allowing Twinkie I to pot her second try at
it for the win that retied the series at 2 to set up a final meaningful game.
Max needed just two shots in game 5 to get the win, burying the 1 and then
caroming the cue off the 2 to take the 9. This gave Max a 3-2 series win, and
he advances his #30 ranked 9-ball bid to the bracket semifinals. With the loss,
Twinkie I is the 40th player ousted from the tournament, and Max has
his first kill of the year.
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