It's the middle day, and potentially the longest day, of the penultimate round of play for this pool tournament. We begin the festivities with...
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Spice. The underrated host, one of four going into the round with multiple bids, opposes a strong captain in the blue cue's 8-ball series. Victoria's Spice got off to a strong start in game 1, but her late miss on the 8 set Central's Dustin up for a huge comeback as he made a five-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Dustin dialed up another five-ball run-out in game 2, clustering the 4, 1, and 3 for a series of shots at the top left before pounding the 8 to the bottom right, all because the Spurs' Spice missed on the 13. Dustin leads the series 2-0. Dustin did the 5-1 combination to the top right to claim solids in game 3, and then double-potted the 5 to the top right and the 4 in the bottom side after a series of deflections in a three-ball opening run. Dustin did the rest on his next turn after a three-ball run by Spice, as he used his now-signature five-ball run-out with excellent cuts on the last three shots to get the win and a 3-0 series lead. Spice finally got a win in game 4, as Dustin struggled with his suit being in unfavorable positions. Spice made the most of her opportunity by steadily making shots and leaving good positions for herself, eventually getting the win when Dustin misfired on the 4 and she could make her last two shots. The series stands at 3-1 for Dustin. In game 5, Dustin nearly did it all at once, working a seven-ball run and coming up wide on the 8 after picking and weaving through the table. Spice got some back late, but Dustin cut the 8 into the bottom right, securing advancement at 4-1. Dustin returned to his roots in game 6, dominating with two balls on the break and his five-ball run-out from excellent precision shooting at the end, leaving Spice without much hope as Dustin moved to 5-1 ahead in the series. Spice made the highlight reel during a five-ball run in game 7, cutting the 10 so narrowly as to get it to the top left, with the cue caroming into the 3-11 cluster, sending the 11 to the bottom right in a miracle double-pot. Dustin had a decent effort in the game, but couldn't quite finish it. Spice scratched a couple of times, but this set her up for a three-ball run-out to get the win. Dustin took the series 5-2, and the #10 ranked 8-ball player finishes this bracket at 18-9. Spice is down and out as the 96th player eliminated, while Dustin extends his league lead in kills with his fifth.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Ice Cream. The silver cue gets 7-ball in this series. These teams will see two other players tangle in the next series at the other venue. Diamond's Citrus wasted no time in game 1, making the 7 off the break as it took a couple of bumps from behind to find the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead over Commerce's Ice Cream. The Gems' Citrus picked up another win in game 2, but the Tradewinds' Ice Cream deserved it more, putting up a three-ball run before missing on the 7 to leave it for Citrus. The win made it 2-0 in the series for Citrus. In game 3, Citrus put up a three-ball run, but intentionally missed on the 7, leaving it in a poor spot for Ice Cream, whose faulty shot set it up for Citrus to make it the second time, giving her a 3-0 series lead with the heady play. Citrus once again played Ice Cream hard in game 4, giving her a snookered shot at the 4. When Ice Cream made illegal contact, Citrus burst out with a four-ball run-out of fairly simple shots, taking the win to clinch the series at 4-0. Citrus kept Ice Cream out of game 5 like she did in game 1, getting the 7 and cue to meet up along the top rail before the 7 deflected with pace to the top left for the win, making it 5-0 in the series. Citrus scratched on the break in game 6, but still dominated possession as Ice Cream took only three shots. Citrus had a five-ball run before scratching again, and then finished on the 7 after Ice Cream missed it at the top right. Citrus leads the series 6-0. Ice Cream finally snagged a game away in game 7, as Citrus was erratic with scratching, and Ice Cream used the ball-in-hand from one to make a 2-7 combination in the top left. Citrus still took the series 6-1, and the #34 ranked 7-ball player heads to the finals carrying an impressive 22-5 record from the bracket, making her a likely very difficult out. Ice Cream is the 97th player eliminated, this coming in humiliating fashion against a club-mate, while Citrus has her fourth kill of the year.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lorde v. Smokey. The red cue gets this team-based rematch in 9-ball. Diamond's Smokey had the better of play against a shaky Lorde of Commerce in game 1. Smokey took time to find his shot, and unleashed a five-ball run-out for the win to claim a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey made a mistake when he missed contact on the 3. This sent the Tradewinds' Lorde on a four-ball run. Smokey then made the 8 but missed the 9 from distance, and Lorde tapped it in for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 went well on both sides of the ball for each player. The early parts of the game saw defense mixed with offense. This went out the door as Smokey made a statement by cutting the 6 in to the top left and getting the perfect spin to double-pot the 8 in the bottom left. He then shot the 7 and 9 with authority for the four-ball run-out win to make it a 2-1 series lead for himself. Game 4 saw Smokey miss just once, on the 3, and this proved costly. Lorde fired back by making the and 4, and then caromed the cue off the 5 to take the 9 in the bottom right, with the three-ball run-out giving her the win to tie the series at 2. Lorde pulled ahead in the series by a 3-2 score with an early end to game 5. She had made a three-ball run before turning things over to Smokey who made the next two shots but couldn't find a slot for the 6. Lorde pulled off a strong shot thanks to Smokey's leave of the 7 near the 9, and the 6 went off the left rail, caroming off the 7 to glance the 9 into the bottom right for the win. Lorde didn't have a confident performance in game 6, but she finally proved able to oust Smokey, as his miss on the 7 took away any chance of him winning, and Lorde made the last two shots to seal the series at 4-2. Game 7 went pretty crisply without any pressure involved, with Lorde making a three-ball run in the middle only to see Smokey steal the game away with a three-ball run-out after Lorde missed the 7. Lorde took the series 4-3, and she carries an 18-9 record on this #32 ranked 9-ball bid as she heads into the finals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Chelsea. The blue cue gets this series of 12-ball. Capital City's Sprinkles didn't get anything off of the break in game 1, but once she made a shot, she couldn't stop with a five-ball run and a good set-up for her last shot. Eastside's Chelsea tried to hang on, but two turns later, Sprinkles won the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Chelsea showed a lot of confidence in game 2, outpacing the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles even with a scratch and an illegally potted ball to her name. Chelsea ended up winning when she made the 13 to the correct bottom right pocket, tying the series at 1. Chelsea proved to be tougher than she looks, winning game 3 in gutsy form. As part of her four-ball run, she gave away a wild card ball to Sprinkles, but then ended with an ill-advised jump shot on her final ball. Sprinkles was unable to cash in fully, chipping at the deficit but coming up short as Chelsea tapped the 9 to the bottom left to win and take a 2-1 series lead. Sprinkles got herself back on track with the game 4 win, weathering a three-ball run from the start by Chelsea to assembled a four-ball run of her own. Sprinkles got the win when she made the 5 and then banked the 1 to the top left, tying the series at 2 with a brilliant set-up and execution. In game 5, Chelsea played a bit wild while Sprinkles took a patient approach, but this all got them both to the same point, needing one ball at the bottom right. Chelsea got the first stab at it, putting hers in the advantageous position, and she won on her next turn for a 3-2 series lead. Sprinkles kept the fight up in game 6, although she needed Chelsea to miss the 9 as she was bearing down with a four-ball run at that point. Chelsea stalled after the miss, which probably was going to give her the game had she made it. Sprinkles bounced back, making her last three balls over two turns to get the win and tie the series once more at 3. Sprinkles had a big break in game 7, giving up a wild card ball that would haunt her in the end as Chelsea made a three-ball run-out aided by the flexibility of the gift to get the series win at 4-3. Ranked #27 in 12-ball, Chelsea has a 20-7 record on the bracket as she heads to the finals. Sprinkles is the 98th player to get knocked out, going in the books as Chelsea's third kill of the year.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Stinky. The red cue comes back into action for the last of the 12-ball this round. Pronger's Precious game up with the game 1 win, coming from behind against Freedom's Stinky, who started off well but couldn't keep it going as he froze with two balls left on the table. Precious eventually got ball-in-hand to win, taking a 1-0 series lead as well. The Tridents' Precious came out on fire in game 2, making a five-ball run while surrendering a wild card ball as she earned position for her final ball. The Cascades' Stinky couldn't reply well, losing two turns later as Precious made it 2-0 in the series. Game 3 didn't go well on either side, with Precious facing many frustrations but keeping her cool after the UPCL flexed its disciplinary muscle yesterday. Stinky couldn't do much else either, and Precious slowly navigated her way to a win for a 3-0 series lead. In game 4, Stinky put up a four-ball run-out after receiving a wild card ball from a chaotic four-ball run by Precious. Stinky was very good with his answer to avoid the sweep and stay alive as the series moves to 3-1 for Precious. Game 5 went from wild to tense as soon as Precious gave up a wild card ball despite holding the lead. Stinky charged back, nearly banking the 10 in a couple of times as he tried to keep Precious out of position, but she overcame her disadvantage to score a win with the 7 in the bottom side, clinching the series at 4-1. Precious gave up a wild card ball in game 6 as well, and she was not so resilient this time, as Stinky plowed through the game with efficiency to get the win and cut the series to 4-2. Precious finished the series strong, winning game 7 with a four-ball run-out after a shaky start that saw her eventually claim solids. Precious took the series 5-2, and the #83 ranked 12-ball player is 19-8 over the course of the bracket as she heads into the finals. Stinky is the 99th player to be eliminated, and Precious earned her third kill of the tournament.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Smudge. The blue cue is back for this 15-ball series. Game 1 started with a very unfriendly break from Archtown's Ruby. This ultimately played to her benefit, as when Infinity's Smudge started picking apart the mess, she scratched to end a three-ball run. Ruby made a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, winning for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge came out on the right end of a very back-and-forth game 2, with neither herself nor the Arrows' Ruby able to string many shots together without a scratch or a miss to ruin it. The win by Smudge tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw some difficulties emerge for both players after a delay for a foreign object on the table. Once things were restored to normal, Ruby put up a six-ball run, and nearly kept going. Smudge did make the next two, but missed the 15, and Ruby drove it in for the win to take a 2-1 series lead. Ruby had a strong start and finish in game 4, working a four-ball run from the break and a three-ball run late in the game, before getting the win after Smudge inexplicably missed on the 15. Ruby leads the series 3-1 after this victory. Ruby continued to get the better of possession in game 5, pacing her attack with a five-ball run early in the game. Things slowed as she and Smudge struggled later on, but Ruby fixed her problems and got the win with a three-ball run-out, taking the series at 4-1. Ruby had a six-ball run over the middle of game 6, looking in line to get another win, and she was helped when Smudge illegally potted the 12, but Ruby missed the 14, and Smudge took care of the last two shots to get the win, making it 4-2 in the series. Smudge actually seemed to be controlling game 7, but it didn't do her any good, as Ruby won with a 14-15 combination to the top right that became a double-pot as the 14 followed the 15 in. Ruby took the series, and advances her #71 ranked 15-ball bid to the finals with an 18-9 record on the bracket. Smudge is the 100th player to get knocked out so far, and Ruby has her
Ebay Center, Queens: Crystal v. Sugar. The silver cue gets its turn for 8-ball with this series. Queens' Crystal started a bit slow in game 1, but got going with a four-ball run on what ended up being her last turn, answered by a six-ball run-out from Web City's Sugar, who is likely playing for her job as she wins and gets a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal again took a slow approach to game 2, but the Spiders' Sugar was unable to get through her suit, and Crystal made the 8 on her second cautious try to get the win and tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw some poor shooting from both players, creating a fairly long game that resulted in Crystal eventually getting the win after a miss by Sugar on the 8, and Crystal went ahead 2-1 in the series in unremarkable form. Sugar made a late surge ahead of Crystal in game 4, leaving the 8 incredibly short at the top left, but it wasn't enough. Crystal did a three-ball run-out of short shots and tap-ins to get the win, making it a 3-1 series lead for herself. Crystal never really stood a chance in game 5, as Sugar made a four-ball run early on and this paced her attack while Crystal tried to get set up for a long run. Sugar eventually made the 8 to the top side from the kitchen after Crystal scratched, and this cut the series to 3-2. Sugar kept up the momentum coming from behind against a much improved Crystal in game 6, working a three-ball run-out in the end to pick up the win and tie the series at 3 to set up a decisive game. Game 7 was as thrilling as it promised to be, with the players going back and forth for the early stages of the game. Crystal eventually broke free for a five-ball run that paced her attack, and Sugar never answered sufficiently, falling in the game and the series by a 4-3 score. Crystal is ranked #73 for 8-ball, heading into the finals with a 17-10 record. Sugar is the 101st player to be eliminated, and Crystal gained her second kill of the year.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Acorn. The red cue is up now for the first of three consecutive 10-ball series. Freedom's Nikolai had a surge of possession late in game 1, working a three-ball run to help him get in good position. Lighton's Acorn took the 9 but missed the 10, and Nikolai picked up the scraps to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn ended up taking game 2 with a four-ball run-out, tying the series at 1 with the dominant effort to get the win over an erratic Nikolai of the Cascades. Acorn absolutely dominated game 3 pretty thoroughly, running five balls from the break and then burying the 6-10 combination to the top right to get the win and take a 2-1 series lead over Nikolai. Acorn had the better of possession again in game 4, outplaying Nikolai in the early stages of the game and then blowing past him with a three-ball run-out to snag the win and make it 3-1 in the series. Nikolai made a late charge in game 5, working on two in a row to answer Acorn's three-ball run over the middle, but Nikolai missed the 10 and Acorn tapped it into the top left for another win, clinching the series at 4-1. Nikolai was the one applying pressure in the late stages of game 6, putting up a four-ball run and narrowly missing on the 10 to the top right. Acorn had to take a very rough angle with high speed on his shot, and he scratched despite making the shot. Nikolai buried the 10 from ball-in-hand to win and cut the series to 4-2. Nikolai thought he was onto something when he pushed the 6 off the 10 in game 7, but his scratched nullified the tactical play. Acorn made the three-ball run-out to finish off another strong game and took the series 5-2 in the process. Ranked #33 for 10-ball, Acorn is 19-8 on the bracket as he heads into the final, with potential opponents to be determined in the next two series. Nikolai is the 102nd player eliminated, and Acorn has his third kill of the year.
Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: Jake v. Nightfur. These two Crowns teammates still have club pride on the line in this 10-ball series with the silver cue. Nightfur was holding on just fine until Jake reached into his bag of tricks in game 1. He called the 10 to the bottom right, and then made it with a carom of the cue off the 6. The 6 landed in the top side for a double-pot, and Jake's win gave him a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 didn't see any solid shooting from either player, beginning with a horrendous break by Jake. Nightfur ended up with the win after much futile shooting between the two, cleaning up Jake's missed kick to the bottom left to get the win and tie the series at 1. Jake absolutely dominated in game 3, piecing together a bold and well-played seven-ball run, but he came up short, missing the 10 twice and allowing Nightfur to pot it on her third try to get the win and give her the 2-1 series lead. Jake did suffer a minor injury to his base hand during the game, but he's ready to keep playing. Jake kept a good pace with Nightfur in game 4, but Nightfur came up big in the end with her shot on the 10 from distance to take the win and make it 3-1 in the series for herself. Jake went all out as often as possible in game 5, making it look like he was shooting poorly when he was just trying to play onto the 10. Nightfur showed him how to do it after his missed contact with the 6, as she tapped it in and then put the 7 in the bottom left and the 10 in the top left for a series-clinching double-pot as she won to go to 4-1 ahead. Nightfur made quick work of game 6, with her break so scattered that Jake couldn't see the 1. He missed contact on a kick effort, and Nightfur made the 1 and 2-10 combination to the bottom right for a win to make it a 5-1 series lead. Nightfur played well yet again in game 7, but a lazy scratch after a four-ball run allowed Jake to take the game. Nightfur won the series 5-2, and advances her #28 ranked 10-ball bid to the finals, as she carries a 17-10 record from the bracket. Jake is the 103rd player knocked out, and Nightfur's friendly fire kill is her second of the tournament.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Lydia v. Puff II. The night ends with the blue cue providing the third piece of the 10-ball trifecta. This Cola Wars Derby began with Lighton's Lydia making a bunch of illegal shots and Boston's Puff II deferring. Puff II scratched a couple of times late, and this helped Lydia complete the game for a win and a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Lydia seemed to have an edge in game 2 as well, keeping the pace of play pretty high despite another poor break. The Swifts' Puff II got a lucky break as Lydia missed the 10 to end a three-ball run. Puff II made it, tying the series at 1 with her win. Puff II continued to walk the delicate line between brilliance and misery, playing very well in game 3 but ending a three-ball run by missing the 10. Lydia fired it all the way down and back, missing her intended top left and potting it illegally in the top right. Puff II made it from its spotted point and took a 2-1 series lead with another fortunate bounce or two. Game 4 saw the players tangle up a bit with their shooting. Puff II had a bad break this time, and it took awhile to sort that out. In the end, Puff II's scratch was wiped away by Lydia missing contact on the 8, allowing Puff II to make the last two balls from ball-in-hand, which gave her a 3-1 series lead after she finished the game. Puff II played very confidently in game 5, but it wasn't enough in the end. Her miss on the 9 allowed Lydia to drive the 9 into the top right and then fire the 10 to the bottom right for the win, cutting her own deficit to 3-2 as Puff II is still a step away from advancing. Lydia tried her hardest to prevent Puff II from unleashing a run, but Puff II did it anyway. At the end of the game, Puff II capped a three-ball run-out with a distance cut on the 10 to the top left, burying it for the 4-2 series lead that secures her progress forward. Lydia looked all set to get the win after a strong performance in game 7, including a highlight reel kick-combination that went 6-7-9 to the top right. Lydia did miss on the 10, and Puff II put it away to the top left to take the series 5-2. Ranked #16 in 10-ball, Puff II has a 20-7 record through the bracket as she heads into the finals. Lydia is the 104th player to be eliminated, and Puff II scored her fourth kill of the year.
Tomorrow's the last day of the individual brackets before we head into the two-day Finals event. It'll be a shorter day tomorrow, with only six series, plus the standard administrative tasks.
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