After an extended weekend break, the tournament resumes with the second half of this round. We begin with...
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Bells. The red cue has the first series today, playing 12-ball. Archtown's Sleepy B. took game 1 with a bit of a hesitant but commanding finish, making her last two balls as she battled for position with Oceanside's Bells late. The win gave Sleepy B. a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Bells got one back with a game 2 win, where she had a three-ball run pacing her attack after the Arrows' Sleepy B. got caught with a scratch and illegally potted ball on the same turn. The series is tied at 1. Bells nearly overcame giving up a wild card ball in game 3, getting very close to the last pocket she needed but allowing Sleepy B. two good shots to steal the win and make it a 2-1 series lead for the host after the victory. Sleepy B. had a three-ball run from the break in game 4, but she also gave Bells a wild card ball, and when she made weak contact and gave Bells ball-in-hand, the visitor turned out a five-ball run-out to win, retying the series at 2. Bells ended up pulling herself to a 3-2 series win as she made a win in game 5, outlasting Sleepy B.'s defense for the victory. Bells is ranked #102 for 12-ball, and will travel to Ford Forum in Pronger to battle the Tridents' Precious in the bracket semifinals. The loss makes Sleepy B. the 44th player eliminated, meaning the field has been reduced by 33% so far this year. Bells is responsible for two skills after picking one up in this series.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Shaggy v. Nightfur. The silver cue is up for a series of 15-ball. Royal's Nightfur had a very strong start in game 1, driving possession early, but Southridge's Shaggy beat her Southeastern rival with a strong hit on the 11 that aligned the 12-15 combination at the top left for a win and 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Nightfur answered by having a four-ball run in game 2, pacing a streaky attack by both sides, and then using the 8 to deflect the cue into the 15, which fell in the top right, tying the series at 1 with the Defenders' Shaggy. Nightfur looked to have control after a dangerously close leave of the 15 on the game 3 break near the bottom right. She lined herself up a couple of times, and finally buries the 5-15 combination, but scratched, handing Shaggy a free win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 went the distance, the first in the game to do so, with the players exchanging shots pretty evenly throughout. Shaggy was unfortunate to miss the 15 wide right at the top left at the end, allowing Nightfur to tap it in and retie the series at 2. Nightfur capitalized on her edge in possession in game 5, using her four-ball run at the start and a nice line-up from Shaggy's missed kick on the 15 at the end to take the game and win the series 3-2. Ranked #49 in 15-ball, Nightfur heads to Nissan Hall in Infinity to face the Torpedoes' Shelley in the bracket semifinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Dusky. The red cue comes back on for a series of Rotation. Southern's Panda had to fight to get back in the game after Archtown's Dusky gained the lead, but Panda made a double-pot with the 11 in the bottom right and the 14 at the bottom left to tie it, before tapping the 15 in to win 8-7 for a 1-0 series lead after Dusky missed it. The Monarchs' Panda did well in game 2, building a lead with help from two scratches by the Arrows' Dusky, who rallied back into the game but couldn't equalize. Panda made a killed kick-cut on the 9 to the bottom right through traffic, highlighting a late surge to take an 8-5 win and 2-0 series lead. Dusky didn't realize how big a lead she had until it was shrinking in the late stages of game 3, with Panda bearing down quite menacingly. Dusky kicked the 13 out to the bottom left to stem the pressure, winning 8-5 to cut the series to 2-1 with the good shot. Panda had game 4 under control from the start, exerting control with early defense and then good shooting at the end. A 7-12-15 combination to the top right helped Panda close the game, as he made the 7 and 12 to the bottom right on his next turn to seal an 8-2 win to clinch the series at 3-1. Panda had to rally back after falling behind to Dusky's four-ball run, but he did it, battling at the end to take the 8-7 win and win the series 4-1. Panda is ranked #3 for Rotation, and will host a bracket semifinals series.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Amber. The silver cue is set for 12-ball this time around. Atlantic's Amber played well in game 1, using defensive positioning to her advantage against Pearl's Neopolitan, who did fine until a scratch derailed her efforts. Amber closed out from ball-in-hand to win and earn a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Neopolitan played a clustered game until the Pirates' Amber missed contact on her last ball. From ball-in-hand, Neopolitan ended game 2 with a five-ball run-out, including a heady shot on the 15 that set it up at the top left while sinking the 9 in the bottom right for the last two shots of the game, which tied the series at 1. Neopolitan surrendered a wild card ball late in game 3 to remove Amber's defense, but Amber never cashed in on the added flexibility, missing the 14 at the top side twice before giving Neopolitan ball-in-hand for her last two shots, which she made for the win and a 2-1 lead in the series. Neopolitan surged forward in game 4 with a five-ball run, answered immediately by Amber's three-ball run. Neopolitan later scratched, but this served as a set-up technique, as she used the play off the replaced ball to find her final shot with Amber bearing down. Neopolitan secured the series at 3-1 with the tricky play. Neopolitan had to play a few more smart shots in game 5, and she proved up to the task, watching Amber come up just a bit short before Neopolitan made her final two shots to win the game and the series 4-1. Ranked #21 in 12-ball, Neopolitan will host Snowball of the Swordpoint Blades in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Gizmo v. Chelsea. The red cue continues a fairly busy day with 10-ball. Central's Gizmo played well early in game 1, using Eastside's Chelsea's scratch against her well, but he needed her miss on the 10 late in the game to get a second chance, which he buried for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Warriors' Gizmo has had trouble finishing so far, and this cost him in game 2, as he left the 10 short for the Sharks' Chelsea to tap-in. With the make, Chelsea grabbed a win to tie the series at 1. Gizmo dominated game 3, working a five-ball run early and then grinding out the later parts of the game, making the 10 on his second try again to win and gain a 2-1 series lead over an ineffective Chelsea. Gizmo came up big in game 4, a game he should have lost when he missed the 10 after Chelsea's five-ball run, but she couldn't corral it either, and Gizmo took it on the second try, going to 3-1 in the series. Gizmo made a mess at the end of game 5, missing a tap-in on the 9, allowing Chelsea to pot the last two balls for a cheap win to make it a 3-2 series in favor of Gizmo. The #44 ranked 10-ball player, Gizmo is into the bracket semifinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Twilight. The red cue stays up for 7-ball. The end of game 1 was embarrassing for both players, as they couldn't made the 6. After three misses from Boston's Gradley, Central's Twilight came up with a better way, jamming the 6 at the bottom right enough to drive the 7 into the bottom side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight left the Swifts' Gradley in game 2 for too long, failing to pull away and suffering the loss after she missed the 7 and he cleaned it up to win the game and tie the series at 1. Twilight went boss mode in game 3, running the table on her second turn to grab the win for a 2-1 series lead. The big highlight was her failed bank of the 6 toward the bottom side coming back to glance off the cue and slide into the top side to keep the run going. Twilight saw a three-ball run near the end of game 4 end with her missing the 6. Gradley buried the 6 and got good position on the 7, hitting it just hard enough to score the win, retying the series at 2. Gradley came out hot in game 5 and didn't disappoint in the finish, making the first two and last two balls, including a 5-7 combination to the bottom right to seal the series at 3-2. Ranked #32 in 7-ball, Gradley awaits the winner of the series after next for his bracket semifinals opponent and venue.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Nightfur. The silver cue comes back into play for 10-ball in another Southeastern Derby series. Queens' Max had a nice five-ball run over the middle of game 1, but he peaked too early, allowing Royal's Nightfur a three-ball run-out with good precision shooting for the win, and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Max picked up another win in game 2 when the 7 proved too troublesome for the Crowns' Nightfur to make. Max sliced it into the top side, and then made the 10 in the bottom right to tie the series at 1 with his win. Max didn't have a great game 3, and it showed in the end, where Nightfur went on a three-ball run-out for the win, giving herself a series lead again at 2-1. Nightfur was cruising through game 4 pretty well again, working her way around the table, but Max gained momentum on a 4-7 kick-bank-combination to the bottom side. He then had a three-ball run-out, finishing with a long shot on the 10 to the bottom right for the win that made it a 2-2 series. Nightfur brought game 5 to a stunning, highlight-reel ending, cutting the 7 sharply to the bottom right, with the bounce off the rail careening into the 10, which found refuge in the top left for the win on a double-pot. Nightfur took the series 3-2, and her #28 ranked 10-ball campaign heads into the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Shawn v. J. Garcia. The red cue makes its final appearance for the day in 7-ball. Southridge's Garcia emerged victorious in an unremarkable game 1, beating Swordpoint's Shawn with her second effort on the 6 leading to a good shot on the 7 for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Garcia was well on her way to a second win in game 2, but she scratched on the 7 that the Blades' Shawn had missed but left in an inconvenient location, and the illegal finish by Garcia gave Shawn a win to tie the series at 1. Shawn took game 3 on the break, a move Garcia once won a whole series with, burying the 3 to the top side and the 7 to the bottom side to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Shawn couldn't repeat that specific feat, but he managed a three-ball run-out at the end of game 4 to seal the series at 3-1 with a confident finish to a good win. Garcia managed to get the game 5 win, scoring the 7 from ball-in-hand after Shawn scratched on his big hit on it. This made it a 3-2 series final favoring Shawn, and the #17 ranked 7-ball player will host Gradley of the Boston Swifts at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Amber v. Shaggy. The silver cue returns to play Rotation. Atlantic's Amber had quality play at the start and end of game 1, with Southridge's Shaggy making up the difference over the middle. Amber won 8-7 on a three-ball run-out, giving her a 1-0 series lead with the comeback. The Defenders' Shaggy had a chance after a pair of three-ball runs tied game 2 twice, but she missed on the 15, and the Pirates' Amber tapped in the leave for another 8-7 win that gave her a very thin 2-0 series lead that could easily be the other way. Amber closed out game 3 a bit quicker than the previous two, keeping Shaggy a shot behind for much of the game before breaking away to win 8-5 and clinch the series at 3-0. Amber built up a nice lead in game 4, only to watch Shaggy tie the game on a three-ball run. Amber pulled away again at the end, winning 8-6 this time to make it 4-0 in the series. Amber dominated in game 5, working in short spurts before a big finish that saw her weaponize the 6 for a 6-15-14-7 combination to the bottom right and a 6-8 combination to the top right to seal an 8-0 shutout for a 5-0 series sweep. Amber is ranked #11 in Rotation, and will host Dustin of the Central Warriors at this venue in the bracket semifinals. With the brutal series loss, Shaggy is the 45th player eliminated this year, and Amber has her first kill with her own back against the wall.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Jennifer Livilotti. The blue cue's only appearance today is in 9-ball. Terrace City's Jennifer set the tone well in game 1, working with a four-ball run on her first turn. Oceanside's Snuggle prevented her from getting back to the table with his five-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead through great positioning skills. The Waves' Snuggle played perfectly over eight shots in game 2, running the table from break to finish with masterclass execution of his shots, leaving the Knights' Jennifer stunned as she falls behind 2-0 in the series. Game 3 played out with a lot more balance, as Jennifer took a few shots and made some as well, but Snuggle proved stronger yet again, winning with the last two shots to seal the series at 3-0. Snuggle had a bit of an ill-timed scratch late in game 4, and this gave Jennifer ball-in-hand on the 8. Two shots later, she made the 9 and won the game, cutting the series to 3-1. Jennifer had a threatening chance on a 3-9 bank combination attempt, but she left the play lined up for a regular combination by Snuggle, who buried it. Snuggle took the series 4-1, and the #11 ranked 9-ball player will host Midnight of the Westside Rockers at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Ice Cream. The silver cue gets the last two series, playing 7-ball here. Tysini's Princess got game 1, working very well early on before losing a bit of pace to Commerce's Ice Cream. The visitor did miss the 7 short at the bottom left, giving Princess the chance to pot it for a win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Ice Cream got a lucky break after the Hummingbirds' Princess struggled a bit in game 2. Ice Cream was able to tap the 7 in when Princess left it short, tying the series at 1 with her win. Game 3 played out fairly evenly, with Ice Cream faltering in the end, missing the 7 twice, and allowing Princess to assert herself with a cut to the top side for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 saw a bit of a weak pace throughout, and the game came to a standstill at the end, as it took multiple shots to get the 7 in, finally potted by Ice Cream for a win to retie the series at 2. Ice Cream ended up benefiting from her own mistake in game 5, as her flubbed contact on the 6 led Princess to a bad shot on the 7 that Ice Cream potted the leftovers on for a win and 3-2 series win. Ranked #79 for 7-ball, Ice Cream will oppose the winner of the next series in the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Cassandra v. Goldy. The final series of the day is 7-ball with the silver cue. Everton's Goldy thought she had something when Diamond's Cassandra left the 2 short at the bottom right, but it was a well-placed trap. Goldy scratched, and Cassandra took the win on a 3-7 combination from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Goldy took a much-deserved game 2 win, working a four-ball run to get onto the 7, and then making it on her second try after the Gems' Cassandra failed to cut it into the top left. The series is now tied at 1. Goldy made a very impressive finish to game 3 after playing well from the break. With Cassandra's second miss on the 1, Goldy was set for her double-pot of the 1 to the bottom side on a bank, while the cue caromed to take the 3 in the bottom right. This cleared the way for a 4-7 combination to the bottom right, and Goldy converted without nicking the 5, giving herself a 2-1 series lead. Cassandra lost all hope when she scratched on her attempt at the 6, with the late error handing Goldy game 4 with ball-in-hand, which she used to make the last two shots and secure the series at 3-1. Cassandra won game 5 pretty easily, taking a four-ball run-out in the end for the victory to make it a 3-2 series win for Goldy. Ranked #74 in 7-ball, Goldy will host Ice Cream of the Commerce Tradewinds at Chevrolet Center in Everton in the bracket semifinals.
Originally, we planned on having the round end on Thursday. Due to delays, it appears the round will be ending on Friday instead, with administrative work to be conducted over the weekend and the new round likely starting on Monday.
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