It all comes down to this for the Heart of the Game Doubles 8-ball Tournament. The final four teams will battle it out over 20 games to determine the top 4 rankings. We begin with...
The blue cue administering the Woodelands, Lexi and Caitlin, against Destiny's Sierra and Spirit. The Woodelands struck first in game 1, as Lexi and Destiny's Sierra battled to a null level, while Caitlin outplayed Spirit with a five-ball run topping the latter's four-ball run. Caitlin had a chance to win it, but couldn't convert on the 8, leaving it for Lexi in the end, and she made it for a 1-0 series lead for the Woodelands. Destiny's Sierra nearly ran the table after Lexi had a mild run from the break, but Sierra tripped up and ended with a six-ball run. The game never got back to her, as Caitlin did a short run for the Woodelands, but Spirit's attempt to finish the game resulted in a scratch while potting the 8, giving the Woodelands the 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw another tight battle between Lexi and Sierra, each refusing to yield much ground to the other. Spirit showed better, getting a three-ball run the first time to answer Caitlin's three-ball run, and then Spirit put up the final two shots in the game, ending legally to grab a win and cut the series to 2-1. Caitlin continued to be underrated in the series, as she was responsible for the winning three-ball run-out in game 4 after Sierra couldn't quite cut the 12 to the top side. Spirit started the game on a three-ball run from the break to pace Destiny's attack, but Lexi and Caitlin carved it up and won to clinch the series at 3-1. Game 5 saw some more relaxed play from both sides, with Sierra and Lexi struggling to make runs. Caitlin still impressed, but her final turn ended with a light miss on the 8, and Spirit buried it to the top right to get the win, resulting in a final series score of 3-2. The Woodelands advance to the Final against the winner of the next series, while Destiny is in the 3rd place game against the next series loser.
On the other side of the bracket, the Founders, Acorn and Oreo, face Davidson's Conquest, Kirstin and Niki. The silver cue has control in this series. Game 1 was a disaster for both sides' finishing ability. Davidson's Conquest took a massive early lead through Kirstin and Niki's early runs, allowing the Founders to defend. Acorn and Oreo pulled back into the game, but Oreo's miss on the 8 when she had a chance allowed Niki to score it for the win a 1-0 series lead for Davidson's Conquest. It was time for Davidson's Conquest to struggle in game 2, as they had nothing on the break and watched Acorn put up a three-ball run. Oreo continued to support in offense as Niki had a miss on her first turn. Niki shot back with a five-ball run after Kirstin's scratch, and this sufficed to get them close, but Oreo's three-ball run-out won the game for the Founders, tying the series at 1. Acorn had an empty break for the Founders, but it was his second turn that defined the game. Davidson's Conquest had a fairly strong defensive front with their remaining five balls, but Acorn managed a four-ball run with a double-pot of the 1 and 5, but also some collateral damage. The first accidental potting was on one of the Davidson's Conquest striped balls, but the second saw the 8 go in the top right, giving Davidson's Conquest the win and a 2-1 series lead. Davidson's Conquest pushed the Founders to the edge in game 4, with Kirstin's break and Niki's supplementary runs really making a game of things, but Oreo stood tall, with a three-ball run to get her team close, and then a sharp cut on the 11 to the top right and the follow-up to sink the 8 there for a win, tying the series at 2, as the final spot in the Final will come down to the last game. Game 5 played out in an absolute frenzy, with Kirstin going on a six-ball run, followed by Oreo's four-ball run. Niki made one ball, and then Acorn had a chance to win it, but his run ended with three balls and the 8 left near the top left, where Kirstin punched it into the pocket for the win, a 3-2 series win, and a trip to the Final against the Woodelands. The Founders will play for 3rd place next.
In the 3rd place series, the silver cue sees the Founders, Acorn and Oreo, battle Destiny's Sierra and Spirit for the bronze in this tournament. Destiny kept pace with the Founders every step of the way through game 1, as Acorn's opening four-ball run met resistance from Sierra's four-ball run. In the end, Spirit squandered a chance by trying to sneak around the 8 and putting it in the top left too early, giving the Founders a 1-0 series lead. Acorn had a bit of an odd break in game 2, scratching but claiming solids at the same time. Sierra and Spirit gashed a couple of runs for Destiny, but Oreo and Acorn held on as the Founders stayed close. In the end, Acorn had the last two shots, a cut on the 6 to the bottom side and a bank to put the 8 in the top side to win and take a 2-0 series lead. Sierra managed a three-ball run for Destiny in game 3, after an empty break from Acorn, but the team couldn't hold on. Spirit had many struggles going against Oreo in this game, and Oreo provided a spate of offense before Acorn managed a three-ball run-out for the Founders at the end, deftly squishing the 8 between the 7 and the rail to send it in the bottom right for the series-clinching win. This made it a 3-0 series. Sierra missed a chance to break out on a big run in game 4, as her miss on the 14 allowed the Founders to make their way back into the game. Oreo started with a decent effort, but it was Acorn's four-ball run of mainly tap-ins that sculpted the game. Oreo made the last two shots, using the 6 to position on the 8 for the win, and they went up 4-0 in the series. Spirit tried to scratch a lot at the end of the chippy game 5, keeping Acorn from getting ideal shots on the 8, but the strategy faltered and Acorn made the shot, winning the game and sweeping the series 5-0 to give the Founders bronze medals for their showing in the tournament.
In the final, the Woodelands, Lexi and Caitlin, oppose Davidson's Conquest, Kirstin and Niki, for the tournament championship. The red cue is designated for this final five-game set. The Woodelands had to chase in game 1, as Lexi got nothing on the break and Kirstin and Niki each had three-ball runs, which Caitlin failed to answer. Lexi put up a four-ball run on her second turn, but Kirstin handled the last two shots with ease for Davidson's Conquest to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Woodelands struggled at the start of game 2, as Lexi had illegal stick contact to surrender control of the ball to Davidson's Conquest. Niki played too relaxed in the game, and Kirstin couldn't cover it, as Lexi later had a chance to make up for her mistake with the final two shots to win the game and tie the series at 1. The pivotal game 3 proved quite the match for both sides, with Niki starring in a five-ball run for Davidson's Conquest, answered in part by Lexi working a four-ball run but missing on the 8. Kirstin couldn't get the last ball, but she wouldn't have to, as Caitlin illegally potted the 8 to the bottom right, calling the wrong pocket because of a deflection, and Davidson's Conquest taking a 2-1 series lead over the Woodelands. Game 4 slowed the pace down a bit, and the Woodelands didn't enjoy this, as the drama of being one mistake from losing was quite a pressure. Caitlin had a couple of misses in the game, allowing Kirstin to deal a bit more damage for Davidson's Conquest, but she couldn't pot the 8 on a tough shot after Caitlin missed it. Lexi stepped up and buried it on a cut to the bottom right, tying the series again at 2 and leaving the whole tournament to come down to one game. Game 5 saw a finishing frenzy of action, with Caitlin's five-ball run setting off a chain reaction. Niki answered on a six-ball run, but just missed on the 8 to the top side. Lexi took over with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series and the championship with the Woodelands, taking the championship 3-2. The Woodelands are the winners of the tournament, while Davidson's Conquest is second, and the Founders took third.
With that, we close the Heart of the Game Doubles 8-ball Tournament. The Heart of the Game franchise is expected to continue, with sporadic tournaments in between the main UPCL sanctioned events. Most likely is a Heart of the Game Cutthroat Tournament over the summer. Additionally, the Club Cricket Challenge will not be held this December. Talks between the UPCL and the Clubs are ongoing on whether the event will be staged during this cricket season or not. UPCL Cricket returns next week with Week 3 action.
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