After a grueling, on-and-off span of ten months, seven players laid claim to the eight championships in their individual events. Now, those players will face off head to head in a one-day spectacular to crown the ultimate champion for the year. The site is Chevrolet Center in Everton, and many questions exist. Primarily, will it be the Player's Cup recipient Dustin, who has two bids in the tournament to come out on top? What about the league #1 for winning percent, Chelsea? Can the other five players make any noise? Due to Dustin having two bids, he will have one of his bids facing Chelsea in the first round finale, setting up a marquee series in the middle of the event. Should Dustin advance both of his bids to the final on each side of the bracket, he will automatically be declared the champion. Now, let's begin with...
Acorn v. Leandra, playing in the style of 10-ball as Acorn won the coin-flip. All games in this playoff will be contested with the silver cue. Tysini's Leandra waited patiently in game 1, watching Lighton's Acorn make a few shots early on, but Leandra broke free with a four-ball run-out in the end, taking the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra led off game 2 with a three-ball run, but she lost control in the middle. She nearly gained it back, but a miss on the 9 allowed the Prestige's Acorn to make the last two balls, tying the series at 1. Acorn took a firm grasp of the series in game 3, dominating from start to finish against a much shakier Leandra. Acorn closed the game with a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out on consecutive turns that he had nearly strung together. This gave him a 2-1 series lead. Acorn faded out a bit in game 4, losing control to Leandra, who deferred shots back to him after multiple illegally potted balls. Leandra capitalized in the end, as Acorn brushed the 10 and scratched, giving Leandra free shot to end the game, and she did to tie the series again at 2. Leandra took game 5 on her second shot, calling and making the 1-10 bank combination to the top side to gain a 3-2 series lead over Acorn. She hadn't anticipated the 1 deflecting off the 4 to hit the 10, but the shot worked out in the end for an applause-worthy victory. Leandra made another dazzling shot to end game 6 with a win, driving the 2 to the bottom left and then using the 3 to bump the cue into the 10 and pot it in the bottom right on the next shot. This secured her the series at 4-2 in Acorn's own event. Leandra finished off the series with a win in game 7, making the 10 on her second try after Acorn missed himself. Leandra won the series 5-2 and advances into the semifinals of the Tournament of Champions.
Twinkie II v. Bryant is the second series, and Twinkie II won the coin flip to make the game 7-ball. Game 1 was a tale of two flukes for Harrison's Twinkie II. Her break saw the 4, 6, and 7 undisturbed from their spots. After she and Bryant of Maplewood picked off the 1 and 2, Twinkie II cut the 3 into the 4, which hit the 7 off the 6 and into the bottom right to win for a 1-0 series lead as these Northeastern rivals battle in a third rival's home venue. Twinkie II started off with a tricky three-ball run from the break for the Specters, but the Lumberjacks' Bryant took control after his early scratch, and eventually lined up and knocked down a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 with his win. Bryant deserved and earned the game 3 win, but it was a comedy of errors after his four-ball run to get him there. Twinkie II missed a kick combination and scratched, allowing Bryant to miss the 7 on a miscue, and then Twinkie II missed it again before Bryant buried his third try for the win and 2-1 series lead. Bryant rounded back into form with a dominant effort in game 4, getting the win with a four-ball run-out after Twinkie II didn't make much of her two turns in the game and fell behind 3-1 in the series. In game 5, Twinkie II had her attempts, but her precision left something to be desired. Her miss on the 6 was the most critical, as Bryant used the leave to make the last two shots, securing the series at 4-1 with his win. Twinkie II never took a shot in game 6, as Bryant went from break to finish in five shots, ending on a 4-7 combination to the top left in wondrous form to get the win and move ahead 5-1 in the series. Twinkie II got one last punch in during game 7, glancing the cue off the 3 to take the 7 in the bottom side for a win. Bryant still took the series, advancing to the Tournament of Champions semifinals.
Dustin v. Lorde makes up the third series of the day, and once again the better seed gets their game of choice, as Dustin's 8-ball was selected on the coin flip. Central's Dustin had a very rocky start in game 1, but rebounded nicely after Commerce's Lorde missed contact with the 2. Dustin did a three-ball run, and when Lorde couldn't pot the 2 again, he made his last two shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Lorde went from boldly pushing the 8 near the top right to looking genius as she surged through game 2, getting the win when the Warriors' Dustin saw his defense finally falter. The series went to a 1-1 tie. Dustin had a much better effort in game 3, nearly keeping up with Lorde until he potted her last ball on illegal contact, giving her ball-in-hand to make the 8 for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Dustin looked sure to win game 4 as he surged at the end on a three-ball run, but he missed on the 8, and Lorde came back with a bank to make the 14 in the bottom left before twisting a shot on the 8 to the same spot for the win, making it a stranglehold 3-1 series lead. Dustin got one back in game 5, keeping Lorde off of the ball with his five-ball run at one point, and then he continued with the smart shooting in the end until he struck the 8 from distance to the bottom right, cutting the series to 3-2. Dustin was a bit sloppy in the opening turns of game 6, but he got going with a four-ball run to dent Lorde's efforts. She couldn't make a shot on her last turn, and Dustin made his last two shots to snag the win and retie the series at 3 to set up a big finale. Dustin went big in game 7, starting with a long run to take an advantage. Lorde charged back with a four-ball run late, but missed on the last ball in her suit, and Dustin made the 8 to get the win, finishing the comeback and his 4-3 series win. Dustin will meet Bryant in the next round with this bid.
Chelsea v. Dustin is the final quarterfinals pairing, and Dustin again won the coin flip, so they'll play Rotation. Eastside's Chelsea beat Central's Dustin at his own game, working a magical five-ball run-out in game 1 to get the 8-2 win before Dustin could make a comeback. Chelsea leads 1-0 in the series. The Sharks' Chelsea continued to create strong defensive leaves when she knew she had no shot, and this frustrated the Warriors' Dustin, as he again saw her make a late run and then win 8-3 to gain a 2-0 series lead. Dustin played his strongest game in game 3, pulling out to a significant lead early on. He couldn't stop Chelsea in the end, as she tore through with a four-ball run-out, including a game-ending double-pot of the 14 to the bottom left and the 15 to the top side for the 9-6 win and 3-0 series lead. Chelsea got exactly the type of start she wanted in game 4, charging out to a big lead. Chelsea got too complacent in the end, allowing Dustin to twice tie the game, and then letting him get a second try and successful shot on the 15 to steal the 8-7 win, making it 3-1 in the series. Dustin had fallen behind early in game 5, but brought things level when he made the 7-14-10 combination, which became a double-pot when the 14 followed the 10 into the bottom right. Chelsea didn't do great after the game was tied, but she managed to hold on in the end, making the last two shots for an 8-6 win, clinching the series at 4-1. Dustin appeared to lose his heart for this series, allowing Chelsea a virtually free rein to do whatever she wished, and that proved to be winning 8-2, as Dustin provided little resistance before falling behind 5-1 in the series. Dustin fired back with an 8-2 win of his own in game 7, working from behind to defeat Chelsea this time. Chelsea took the series 5-2, and will play in the next series, the first of the two semifinals.
Chelsea v. Leandra is going next, and will be conducted in 15-ball, so as to avoid giving Dustin a tripleheader as he is in the other series. Game 1 started out fine but staled quite quickly until a thrilling finish saw Tysini's Leandra shoot the 11 in on a cut, bringing the cue back to take the 15 at the top side, and then scratching in the bottom side to gift Eastside's Chelsea with a win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra looked far more composed when she brought game 2 to an end with her four-ball run-out, leaving the Sharks' Chelsea without a chance to reply as the series went to a 1-1 tie. Leandra had to weather Chelsea spending three consecutive turns making deep, slashing runs all over the table before she missed on the 15, allowing Leandra a tap-in to win the game and take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 was very much like game 2, starting with a terrible break and featuring lackadaisical play throughout. Chelsea came out the winner in this one after Leandra left the 15 short at the bottom right and she tapped it in to retie the series at 2. Chelsea came out with pure fire on her game 5 break, making three on the initial shot and three more for a six-ball run. Leandra fired back on a four-ball run later, but Chelsea made the final four balls over two turns for the win and a 3-2 series lead. Chelsea didn't play as well in game 6, nearly getting pushed around by Leandra, but Leandra couldn't handle the 15 on her one try at it, and Chelsea's patient game earned a win and sealed the series at 4-2. Chelsea made sure to get one more winning, taking game 7 on a crafty and well-played three-ball run-out to send Leandra backing as Chelsea won the series 5-2 and earned a Tournament of Champions Final bid.
Dustin v. Bryant is the other semifinals series, and it will be conducted in 8-ball as Dustin wins another coin flip. Another Northeastern battle started with Maplewood's Bryant playing pretty well, but things turned for Central's Dustin as he made a five-ball run, and won two turns later on a three-ball run-out after Bryant missed on the 8, giving Dustin the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Dustin had a better start in game 2, barely letting the Lumberjacks' Bryant into the game at all. Bryant tried to double his defense late in the game, but Dustin smoothly glanced the cue off the rail to get the 8 in the bottom left for a win and 2-0 series lead. In a technical sense, Bryant ended game 3 on a six-ball run-out, but it was the location of where he put the 8 that gifted Dustin a win, as Bryant missed the top side and instead made it in the bottom right, a miscall that sees Dustin leading the series 3-0. Bryant had to take desperate measures in the desperate times of game 4 to keep himself alive, and that involved corralling five balls to the top right and then shooting them down with three different combinations before a kick on the 8 to the bottom left gave him the win to make it 3-1 in the series against a stunned Dustin. Bryant started game 5 with a four-ball run to establish himself. Dustin fired back on a five-ball run, but ran out of steam. Bryant nearly let him back into the game when he missed contact on the 15, but Dustin scratched on his next turn, and Bryant made the last two shots starting from the kitchen for the win, cutting the series to 3-2. Bryant has officially dug himself out of the hole he found himself in, winning game 6 by making a huge comeback on a five-ball run-out to deny Dustin the clinching game for the third time as the series moves to a 3-3 tie with one decisive game to go. Dustin had to really struggled to stay in the mix in game 7, but he did, pulling back as Bryant couldn't get the finish. Dustin did a four-ball run-out for the win, positioning himself perfectly, and this lifted him to a 4-3 series win.
Chelsea v. Dustin: This is the final series, featuring a rematch from the first round as the top two players of the year square off in the last individual series of tournament year 2016. The game is 12-ball, and the Champion's Cup is on the line. Eastside's Chelsea had the better positioning for herself in a slow-to-develop game 1, and Central's Dustin resorted to aggressive defense. It failed, and Chelsea earned the win with her last two shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Dustin was frustrated again in game 2, unable to get himself set as the Sharks' Chelsea played a light defense at the pocket they both needed. Dustin pinned his ball on hers, but Chelsea cut it into the top left, keying a three-ball run-out to win and take a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Dustin had the slightly better set up, although a cluster in the middle had to be broken up to get him where he wanted to be. After Chelsea had a miss on the 4, Dustin went to work with a three-ball run-out, collecting the win to make it 2-1 in the series. Chelsea played like she was on a mission with a wild card ball credited to her after a wild break from Dustin, but he didn't let it get him down. Dustin forced Chelsea into removing her defense, and then he charged in and made her pay for it, grabbing the win to tie the series at 2. Game 5 started with a break from Dustin that didn't pot a ball but left Chelsea dumbfounded. She ended up taking stripes, and it worked for her, as she had the better positions later in the game. Still, she barely scraped the 15 at the top right, allowing Dustin to send a scare with his perfect kick on the 7 to the bottom left. He just missed a difficult cut on the 3 to the top left, and Chelsea made sure to get the 15 this time, winning for a 3-2 series lead in a thrilling finish to the game. Dustin broke free with a massive five-ball run on his first turn in game 6, but he burned out, scratching late as a last ditch attempt to disrupt Chelsea, who ignited in the end for a three-ball run-out after playing patiently early on to get in good position. Chelsea clinched the title as the series goes to 4-2. Dustin nearly had game 7 won, potting his last ball but with too much power as he also scratched, and Chelsea used the ball-in-hand to take the game on a three-ball run-out of very well played shots, securing the 5-2 series lead. Chelsea, the regular season's #1 player by winning percentage, will also own the title of Champion of Champions, receiving the Champion's Cup for her efforts as she won in her own style for the finale.
Tomorrow, we'll have the Clan Cup tournament. It's slightly larger, with eight teams of five battling in eight-game series, employing a tiebreaker if necessary. The tiebreakers will either be left-handed 8-ball or Quidditch Rules 10-ball, and a refresher on the latter will be posted if necessary. There is a minor schedule change as well, as my attendance at the Copa America match on 6/16 will preclude my ability to complete the City Cup on Thursday. The new end date of the City Cup is 6/17, and will feature only the last two rounds. Thursday will still see a bit of action, with the quarterfinals being played as much as possible that day.
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