Another full day of games kicks off with...
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Midnight. The first series of the day is 15-ball with the red cue. Tysini's Leandra didn't have the best of starts to game 1, and Westside's Midnight had a couple of three-ball runs to pace her attack, but she came up short. Leandra made the last two balls to the bottom side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Hummingbirds' Leandra serve up a bad break. This created a choppy game, and while the Rockers' Midnight made a late press, she scratched on her attempt at the 15. Leandra made it from ball-in-hand, taking a 2-0 series lead with the win. Midnight brought game 3 to an early end, winning with a 7-9 combination attempt that failed to the top right, but with a deflection of the cue off the 7 to drive the 15 into the bottom right. The win made it 2-1 in the series, still favoring Leandra. In game 4, Leandra applied a lot of late pressure, making a five-ball run and eight of the last nine balls, with Midnight missing her only chance on the 15 to take another loss as Leandra buried the scraps for the win and a 3-1 lead in the series. Game 5 started off well and with good pace, but things stagnated in the end. Midnight ended up pulling away for the win after Leandra couldn't get going again, cutting the series to 3-2. Leandra did well to keep Midnight at bay in game 6, using Midnight's abrupt end to a three-ball run as the catalyst for a four-ball run-out of her own, snagging the win with well-planned shots to seal the series at 4-2. Midnight had a big finish to game 7 after some flashy shooting on the 5 and 6 from Leandra got her in a wasted good position. Midnight made a five-ball run-out to get the final win, but still lost the series 4-3. Leandra is ranked #81 for 15-ball and will play in the bracket final.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Ice Cream. The silver cue is on now, playing 7-ball. Commerce's Ice Cream won game 1 without ever taking a shot, allowing Everton's Goldy to break at home, where she sank the 3 in the bottom right, the 7 in the top left, and the cue in the top side. Ice Cream leads 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Goldy got a better chance to show off her skills in game 2, and that she did, owning a possession edge and closing out with a three-ball run-out to win the game, tying the series at 1 with the Tradewinds' Ice Cream, who played a solid effort. Goldy didn't leave herself with good position on the 5 after using it to deflect the 6 into the bottom right, and her three-ball run ended. Ice Cream took over with two good cuts to get the win, regaining the series lead at 2-1. In game 4, Goldy didn't learn the lesson at all, again making the 6 in off the 5, but ending a four-ball run with a missed shot. She missed the 5 a second time, and then Ice Cream made the last two shots to emerge with the win and a 3-1 series lead. Ice Cream again showed a better pace in game 5, winning with a three-ball run-out that clinched her the series when it moved to 4-1 on her win. Goldy got a bit lucky to get the win in game 6, hammering the cue into the 3 and then watching it bump the 5 and the 7, with the latter finding the top side for a win to cut the series to 4-2. In game 7, Goldy only needed two shots to win, making the 3 and 5 on the break, and then a 1-7 combination for the win. The combination saw the 1 drive the 7 off the right rail from about the bottom side pocket, and the 7 came back, glancing off the cue and 1 before finding the bottom side, an amazing finishing shot. Ice Cream took the series 4-3, and the #79 ranked 7-ball shooter will travel to Intel Center in Diamond to face the Gems' Citrus for the bracket final. Goldy is the 66th player to be eliminated, and the Eagles are shockingly the second team to be finished off as well, with Ice Cream winning in a do-or-die situation for her first kill of the year.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Wild Thing v. Max. The silver cue stays up to play some 9-ball. Whitewater's Wild Thing waited for Queens' Max to overplay himself, and that he did, with a scratch on the 7 after Wild Thing left it close. Wild Thing made the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead to erase a good effort from Max in game 1. The Flames' Max showed a bit more poise in game 2, waiting patiently more often. The Shores' Wild Thing played similarly, but made a late mistake in missing the 9. Max kicked it to the bottom right, winning to tie the series at 1. Max made it 2-1 in a very quick three shots in game 3, making the 4 on the break, banking the 1 to the top side, and then kicking the cue around the 7 to glance off the 2, drive the 9 into the top right, and stop dead on the edge of the pocket, leaving Wild Thing stunned. In game 4, Max made another highlight reel shot, with a sharp 1-7-2 kick combination to the top right, but he scratched on the next turn to end a three-ball run. Max got a bit defensive late, missing the 8 narrowly but leaving Wild Thing no room to play off it much. Wild Thing scratched on his missed attempt at the 9, and Max buried it for the win and a 3-1 series lead. Max got a bit overzealous on a three-ball run, scratching after the 8 to give Wild Thing ball-in-hand for the 9. This made it an easy win for the host, who potted it to the top left to make it 3-2 in the series after slightly outplaying Max in game 5. After Max missed on the 5 in game 6, it became very easy for Wild Thing, with a well set up four-ball run-out that he executed fairly easily for the win, tying the series at 3 to set up the big finale. Wild Thing finished the improbable comeback with a perfectly weighted bank of the 9 to the bottom side to end a three-ball run-out after Max missed on the 7. Wild Thing took the series 4-3, and the #10 ranked 9-ball player will host the bracket final.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Smokey. The game is back to 7-ball, but the blue cue starts its day with this series. Freedom's Roxy made two balls on the break in game 1 and barely looked back, although she got a second chance on the 7 when Diamond's Smokey missed it. She made it with a cut to the top right, earning the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy wouldn't get so lucky in game 2, scratching on her attempt at the 7 to give the Gems' Smokey ball-in-hand to win the game and tie the series at 1. Smokey dominated possession in game 3, only allowing Roxy one turn at the table before closing things out with a five-ball run-out that saw him execute a couple difficult shots very well to get the win and a 2-1 series lead. The 7 couldn't seem to find any safety after a chaotic start to game 4. Roxy had a couple of missed attempts sandwiched around Smokey's own failed deflection attempt at the 7 off the 1. After a couple of shots, Roxy came back to it and made it, banking the 3 off the left rail to split the 6 and 7, with the latter falling in the bottom side for the win. Roxy tied the series at 2. Roxy had illegal contact on the 7 when she was trying to bend the cue around the 6 late in game 5, and this ended up costing her, as Smokey made the most of his ball-in-hand by potting the 6 and finding the 7, which he made to win and regain the series lead at 3-2. After all his good and intentional play, luck shined down on Smokey in game 6, as he pounded the 5 off the top rail, which caromed into the 7 and banked it off the bottom rail with spin to make it in the top left. This stood for a win to give Smokey the series at 4-2. Roxy again scratched with a soft attempt on the 7 in game 7, and this gave Smokey one more easy shot for a win to make it 5-2 in the series. Smokey is ranked #87 for 7-ball, and advances himself to the bracket final, where he'll be on the road at a venue to be determined.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Kirstin v. Starlight. A strong rookie faces a savvy veteran in 8-ball with the red cue. Southern's Kirstin had game 1 mostly under control, but she couldn't get onto the 15, and Pacific's Starlight charged with a pair of three-ball runs to come from behind and win, taking a 1-0 series lead in the process. The Volcanoes' Starlight exploded for a six-ball run from the start, also making a ball for the Monarchs' Kirstin. Starlight slowed a bit, but Kirstin gave the game away with a heavy touch on the 7 as she tried to pin the 8 and potted it instead. Starlight leads the series 2-0. Starlight had no problems pacing her attack despite a bad break in game 3, making a four-ball run to shut down Kirstin, who couldn't make a second push and eventually fell to give Starlight a 3-0 series lead. Starlight kept going in a fairly balanced game 4, battling with Kirstin evenly before serving up a three-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 4-0. Game 5 was a bit more of the same, with Starlight scoring a three-ball run before Kirstin eliminated her defense, and then a couple turns later, Starlight made a three-ball run-out for the win to take a 5-0 series lead. This series is likely squashing Kirstin's Rookie of the Year hopes. Kirstin finally got a win in game 6 to avoid the sweep, requiring a six-ball run-out to counter a five-ball run from the break that Starlight took. This made it a 5-1 series lead for Starlight at this point. Kirstin couldn't sustain the good vibes, losing game 7 after a bad break and a few errant shots allowed Starlight to work around the table with relative ease for the win to take the series 6-1. Ranked #71 in 8-ball, Starlight will be on the road for a bracket final.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Jake. The silver cue's last effort of the day comes in 10-ball. Archtown's Dusky was cruising through the middle of game 1, working to a five-ball run that ended as she left the 10 at the top right. Royal's Jake tapped it in to steal a win and take a 1-0 series lead in easy form. The Arrows' Dusky made another mistake in game 2, scratching late after a miss on the 6, and this set the Crowns' Jake up for a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, with the strong conversion giving him a 2-0 series lead. Jake kept going in a game 3 covered in brilliant shots, most notably his perfectly paced kick on the 2 to the bottom right, which he tapped in off the left rail and narrowly missing the 4 and 8. Dusky was solid as well, making an impressive shot on one of her turns, but Jake won with a three-ball run-out after Dusky missed the 8 on a kick. This win made it 3-0 for Jake in the series. Jake didn't have his best effort of the series in game 4, as he battled pretty closely with Dusky for most of it, but her long-distance miss on the 9 left it short at the top left, and Jake buried it before cutting the 10 to the bottom side to nail the series-clinching win, going up 4-0. Dusky finally got one back in game 5 after Jake's first dud break of the series. They matched up pretty evenly, but Jake got erratic late in the game and Dusky was able to pot the balls she needed to pace herself to a win, making it 4-1 in the series. Dusky continued the strong play in game 6 as well, making a five-ball run early on and a four-ball run-out for the win, with Jake just poking one in between the runs. Dusky's dominant win cut the series to 4-2. Jake answered back as Dusky came up just short in game 7. Dusky had a couple short and choppy runs matched by Jake, and as she looked to finish the game, she left the 10 short, with Jake potting it in the bottom left for the win. Jake wins the series 5-2, and the #8 ranked 10-ball player will host Royal Crowns teammate Nightfur at Kraft Forum for the bracket final. This assures one Crowns player will medal in 10-ball. With the loss, Dusky is the 67th player eliminated from the tournament, but she looks to be in good shape to stay with the Arrows. Jake has his second kill of the year.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Americus v. Citrus. The blue cue comes on again for a series of Rotation. Atlantic's Americus faced virtually no resistance from Diamond's Citrus in game 1, as Americus established a lead and only saw it shrink once before she finished the 8-1 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus put up more of a challenge in game 2, rallying to take the lead after the Pirates' Americus started well. They tangled in the late stages of the game, but Citrus' propensity for defense served her well in picking up the 8-6 win, as Americus rarely got clean shots. Citrus' win tied the series at 1. Americus made a highlight with a 1-10-3 kick combination on her first turn in game 3. Americus ended the game with a well-hit 11-12 combination to the top right, with Citrus lacking in highlights and regular successful shots as well since Americus won 8-4 to retake the series lead at 2-1. Citrus fired back with a confident start in game 4, but slipped late in the game, allowing Americus the illusion of getting back into it. Citrus regained her composure and won 8-5 with the last two shots after Americus missed contact on the 12. This tied the series again at 2. Citrus didn't break well, but she played well in traffic in game 5, which helped her do a four-ball run to build an early lead. Americus didn't challenge it much, but Citrus still made a double-pot of the 7 in the bottom side and the 14 in the top right, and then won on her next turn after some defense by an 8-4 score. Citrus leads the series 3-2. Citrus made Americus regret missing contact with the 8 late in game 6, as Citrus turned this around for a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, cutting and poking her way to the 8-7 win to clinch the series at 4-2. Americus previously had an amazing 4-9 bank combination to extend her lead at one point, but it went for nothing. Americus nearly reversed the fortunes on Citrus in game 7, but she blew it by missing contact with the 15 resting near the bottom side, and her four-ball run to tie the game went for a loss as Citrus tapped the 15 home to win 8-7. Citrus took the series 5-2, and the #13 ranked Rotation player is into the bracket final, where she will be the host of the series.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Chimpy. The red cue is back to play some Accuracy now. Game 1 was a disappointment on both sides, but less so for Chimpy of Modernistic, who managed to induce two late misses by Central's Twilight to claim a 6-7 win for himself to gain a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Chimpy fell apart with four straight misses after gaining a lead briefly over the Warriors' Twilight, who helped his spree of missed shots by leaving bad positions as she marched to 4-6 win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Chimpy turned from sloppy to perfect, buckling down to take the 0-2 win as Twilight messed up early and never had a chance to get it back. The strong effort gave Chimpy a 2-1 series lead. Twilight fired right back with a good game of her own in game 4, playing very well to keep Chimpy from getting back in it, before a pesky final ball inflated the score to 2-4, with the series tied at 2 after Twilight's win. Twilight again came up just short of perfection with a sparkling effort in game 5, missing only once well after the game was in her control to beat Chimpy 1-3 and pull ahead 3-2 in the series. The players returned to their early-series form in game 6, much to the chagrin of the audience in attendance, as it saw Twilight making a mess after a bad break and eventually falling 4-6 to Chimpy, who just kept her from catching up as he won to retie the series again at 3. In game 7, Twilight never had a chance, as she battled closely with Chimpy before two straight misses doomed her to an 0-2 loss, with Chimpy yet again coming up clutch when he needed to. Chimpy claimed the series 4-3, and the #78 ranked Accuracy player will be on the road once again in the bracket final. Twilight has been eliminated from the tournament, the 68th player to bow out. Chimpy has his first kill in the do-or-die scenario.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Zach. The blue cue wraps up its day with a 9-ball series. Viewpoint Sound's Zach had an impressive cut on the 1 in game 1, but followed that with illegal contact, and Boston's Puff II took the 2-9 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand, earning the 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II handled game 2 very effectively, countering a four-ball run from the Meteors' Zach with a three-ball run-out to get the win after he made illegal contact on the 7. This win gave her a 2-0 series lead. Puff II absolutely dominated in game 3, making the first six balls over three turns and then tapping the 9 in when Zach's attempt went a bit wide at the bottom left, with the win putting Puff II ahead 3-0 in the series. Game 4 did not start well, with the first make taking many turns to come. Once things got going, Zach appeared to have a slight edge, but he wouldn't get the win, as he missed on the 7, and Puff II made it and got position to make the 9, scoring it to secure the series at 4-0. Puff II accelerated her play even more in game 5, working a seven-ball run-out that began with a jump over the 4 to drill the 3 in the bottom right, and also featured an insane deflection off the cue to get the 5, and long shots on the 6 and 8 near the end to close it. Puff II leads the series 5-0 after the clinical effort. Puff II kept up the highlight reel efforts in game 6, pounding a 4-8 bank combination to the top side before taking the 4 on a distance and powerful cut. This was part of a six-ball run, and while she missed the 7 the first time around, Zach couldn't make it, allowing Puff II to hit it and then kick the 9 to the bottom right deftly for the win, giving her a 6-0 series lead. In true Puff II fashion, she ended game 7 in a remarkable way. She made the 5-7 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand after Zach scratched. Then, having lost position on the 5, she effortlessly glanced it off the right rail, where it careened into the 9, which fell in the top right for a win on a low-probability combination shot. Puff II swept the series 7-0, and the #13 ranked 9-ball player will host Midnight of the Westside Rockers at this venue in the bracket final. Zach is out of the tournament with the loss, the 69th player eliminated. Puff II has her second kill of the year.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Gabe v. Acorn. The long day ends with 10-ball and the red cue. Lighton's Acorn showed off a certain amount of authority and confidence in his seven-ball run-out to win game 1, shooting cuts from all ranges, angles, and speeds to keep Infinity's Gabe from the table as he went up 1-0 in the series. The Prestige's Acorn looked well on his way to the victory in game 2, putting up a late five-ball run after doing much of the heavy lifting, but he missed the 10. The Torpedoes' Gabe shot back with a classic finish, banking it to the bottom right for the win, tying this Southwestern Derby at 1. Gabe had a slight edge in possession again in game 3, but got nothing to show for it this time, as he left the 10 short at the top left, and Acorn tapped it in for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Acorn was a bit more deserving of the win that he had in game 4, owning a majority share of the possession as Gabe floundered on even the moderately difficult shots while Acorn made a couple of tougher cuts. Acorn finished with the last two shots, winning to go up 3-1 in the series. An insect infestation delayed game 5 a bit, but when the play resumed, Acorn had lost a bit of his accuracy in shooting, and this allowed Gabe an open door. This became apparent when Acorn's failed attempt to put the 10 into the top right with a deflection off the 4 illegally potted the 9, allowing Gabe to call a traditional 4-10 combination to the top right, which he made for a win. This made it 3-2 in the series, still favoring Acorn. Gabe was driving possession in game 6 until he illegally potted a ball, ending a five-ball run. Acorn failed on the attempt at the 7, but Gabe would surrender the game after missing the 8, as Acorn made the last three balls over two turns, securing the series at 4-2 with the win. Gabe looked in line to get the game 7 win as well, making a five-ball run and pressing late, but his kick on the 10 left it short at the top right, and Acorn made it for the win. Acorn took the series 5-2, and the #33 ranked 10-ball player is into the bracket final. With the loss, Gabe is the 70th player eliminated, and Acorn has his second kill of the year to stay alive himself.
We're halfway through the round now, with the next three days expected to finish it. The round is now projected to end on Friday.
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