We're back for another day's worth of games in the Doubles tournament. Only 32 pairs remain, and we'll begin to whittle them down again. First up are...
The Quarterbacks, Jake and Marsell, against the Cougars, A. Charlton and Chelsea. The silver cue is on the slate for this series. The Quarterbacks dominated the early stages of game 1, with a run by Jake giving them a nice lead. They were unprepared for Chelsea to roar back with a six-ball run-out for the Cougars, using her positioning skills to swoop in for the win and make it a 1-0 series lead early on for her team. The Quarterbacks answered with a highly efficient five-ball run by Jake on his first turn. They slowed down a bit, allowing the Cougars to gain ground, but it didn't matter in the end, as Marsell closed out the game and took the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 featured a lot of playing for the other team, as each player had a moment where they made an opponent's ball instead of their own. With all the gift-giving, it was fitting for Jake to leave the 8 in a vulnerable spot, allowing Charlton to tap it into the bottom left corner for the cheap win, giving the Cougars a 2-1 series lead over the Quarterbacks. Game 4 saw both teams produce good runs, with Charlton and Chelsea each scoring a three-ball run that got overwhelmed by a four-ball run from Marsell and a two-ball run-out by Jake in the end to produce a consistent result, making it a tied series once again at 2-2, with one game to determine the rest. The Quarterbacks appeared to take the upper hand in game 5 as well, and they made it stick as the Cougars challenged at every shot. The close finish favored Jake, as Chelsea couldn't corral the last striped ball, and Jake was able to bury Marsell's set-up shot on the 8 for the win and a 3-2 series win. The Quarterbacks have found their way to the third round.
Going second, the Otherentals and the Old Gentlemen do battle with the silver cue. Bells kept the Otherentals in charge for much of the game, setting the tone with a five-ball run from break. The Old Gentlemen couldn't keep up with the pace, flailing with their off-target shots, and Bells later had a three-ball run-out to put the Otherentals up 1-0 in the series after a strong first game individually. The Old Gentlemen had a much improved effort for game 2, pulling ahead in the later stages. The Otherentals were helpless to watch as Snuggle took a shot at the 8, but his try was errant and found a pocked he did not call, gifting the Otherentals with the win that gave them a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw the Old Gentlemen emerge with a quick lead on a five-ball run from Mr. Snowman after Bells' empty break. Bells wouldn't let that stand, and she rallied with a five-ball run of her own on her next turn. Mr. Snowman then replied with a well-played three-ball run-out to snag the win and cut their deficit in the series to 2-1. The Otherentals salvaged the series back in their favor with a six-ball run by Bells, ending only in a small illegal contact play. Snuggle tried to reply for the Old Gentlemen, but it didn't work out, and Hoot helped set up Bells for her finale play, enough to earn the win and make it a 3-1 series lead for the Otherentals. The Old Gentlemen gave game 5 a solid try, and they ended up taking the win as Mr. Snowman posted a four-ball run-out to stun the Otherentals and produce a 3-2 series final. Bells and Hoot advance to the third round with a fair amount of confidence.
The third series features Taylor and Rosalina, the Tall Blondes, against Puff II and Twinkie II, the Second Generation. The blue cue plays this series. Game 1 was a game to forget on both sides, with the Tall Blondes only taking solace in picking up the win. This came about because the Second Generation scratched four times in the game, and the Tall Blondes managed to work around their opponents' errors to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both sides improve, with Puff II scoring a four-ball run to give the Second Generation a nice early lead. The Tall Blondes didn't allow it, pulling themselves back into the game later with a run by Taylor and then Rosalina's three-ball run-out to win again and make it 2-0 in the series. Puff II and Taylor fought to a stalemate on their turns in game 3, but Twinkie II had a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out to leave Rosalina in the dust, helping the Second Generation to their first win of the series as the score stands at 2-1 from the remarkable effort from Twinkie II. The Second Generation started off strong again, with Puff II doing most of the work in game 4. She kept defense in critical areas to prevent the Tall Blondes from making a run, and it stuffed Rosalina on her only turn. Puff II then made a four-ball run-out, including a jump over the 2 to pot the 10, which left her lined up for the 8 as she tied the series at 2 with the clever play. Puff II got nothing from the game 5 break, and things looked dire when Taylor assembled a five-ball run halted only by a scratch. Twinkie II took over from the kitchen at this point, posting an eight-ball run-out that seemed to be driven a bit by luck, but it worked to get the clinching win. The Second Generation heads to the third round on the backs of that run and a 3-2 series win.
The fourth series of the day is Chicky Phil and Panda, Farm and Forest, against Klaus and Prism, Technicolor Christmas. The red cue is up for this series. Farm and Forest got off to a blistering start, completing a shutout in game 1. Chicky Phil did the bulk of the work with a seven-ball run from the break, and Klaus missed his only shot for Technicolor Christmas. Panda iced the game by making the 8 to the top right for a 1-0 series lead in fine form. Farm and Forest followed the same blueprint for game 2, as Chicky Phil made a six-ball run from the break, leaving Klaus in a bad shooting position, and the having Panda make the last two shots this time to grab another win and take a 2-0 series lead. The Technicolor Christmas rookie duo is really struggling, and Prism has yet to see the table. Chicky Phil couldn't put up a big run in game 3, and this ruined Farm and Forest's game plan. Technicolor Christmas benefited well, as Klaus and Prism took approximately equal shares of the game en route to a victory iced off by the final two shots for Prism from the kitchen. The result made the series move to a 2-1 mark. Farm and Forest had to shot a bit more resiliency, as Technicolor Christmas jumped out to a decent lead in game 4. Unfortunately, Klaus lost a bit of pace on his later turns in the slow game, opening the doors for a comeback that was completed when Chicky Phil tapped in the 8 after Klaus missed it at the bottom side, securing the series at 3-1 for Farm and Forest. Technicolor Christmas managed to hold onto the lead they established in game 5, working from the start for a better result than the previous game. Klaus had some scratching issues late in the game, but came through with the last two shots after Prism pinned Chicky Phil along the rails. The series ended 3-2 for Farm and Forest, and they advance to the third round.
Next up is series five, with the red cue presiding over the match between Dogtown's Princess and Americus and the Top of the List's Misty and Leonette. Misty looked to put Top of the List in a good position for game 1, but Dogtown's Americus answered quickly with a five-ball run to keep them in the game. A few gritty turns ensued before Americus finished what she started with the final shot on the 8 for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. Princess carried a bit more of the load for Dogtown in game 2, rallying for a four-ball run from the break. Leonette challenged with a run of her own for Top of the List later in the game, but Americus defended it well, and Princess iced the game with the last two shots for a 2-0 series lead. Top of the List had to fight hard for their lives in game 3, aided by Princess' inability to make any shots from the break or her second turn. Leonette and Misty managed to get themselves onto the 8, but they had to wait before making it as Americus went on a three-ball run. The threat ended when Misty tapped the 8 in to get the win and cut the series to 2-1. Leonette put up a valiant effort for Top of the List in game 4, but the effort went to waste as Princess made a hard charge at the end of the game to steal the win away and take the series at 3-1 with her four-ball run-out, as Dogtown will be advancing. Leonette took Top of the List for one more win in game 5, working a three-ball run-out to stun Princess and Americus as the series will end in a 3-2 final. Dogtown heads to the third round nonetheless.
For the sixth series, Davidson's Conquest, featuring Kirstin and Niki, oppose the Exotics, Nicole and Yekaterina Vasilyeva. The blue cue is at the table to conduct this series. Game 1 was a mess, as neither team could make an assertive claim to the lead. Davidson's Conquest took advantage occasionally, pacing a small lead that Niki ultimately iced off after much work from Kirstin to set her up among all the missed shots from the Exotics. Davidson's Conquest leads 1-0 in the series. In game 2, Kirstin did her part with a four-ball run to answer Nicole's early five-ball run for the Exotics. Niki lifted Davidson's Conquest the rest of the way, outplaying Yekaterina with a two-ball run-out that saw her bank the 8 to the top right for the win, making it a 2-0 series lead for Davidson's Conquest. The Exotics continued to be just pieces short of making a game of things, and this stayed true as Yekaterina missed the chance for a deep run in game 3. The result went unfavorably for them, as Niki had left the 8 at the bottom right, and Kirstin made no mistake to pound it home from the kitchen after Yekaterina's scratch, giving Davidson's Conquest the series on the win as they move ahead 3-0. The Exotics had their best game in game 4, posting three-ball runs each on the first turns. The problem for them was that Yekaterina never got a second turn, as Niki stepped up to swipe another game for Davidson's Conqeust. She assembled a seven-ball run-out, using two banks and a couple of long strikes as well to get the win and take a 4-0 series lead. Nicole saved face for the Exotics with a game 5 win, taking the team on her back after a poor break from Davidson's Conquest's Niki. Nicole used a four-ball run-out in the end, including a 4-6 bank combination to the bottom right to get the win, but it only made it a 4-1 series win for Davidson's Conquest, who saw better play from Kirstin in the final game. They advance to the third round with their convincing win.
Series seven is next, with the Muscle Bros Lionel and Smokey against their Brute Force companions Muscle and Medicine, Rainmane and Slinks. Lionel looked to have the Muscle Bros in full control of game 1 throughout his early turns, but he left them open to the counterattack. Smokey missed on the 8, and from that point on, Slinks put up a three-ball run-out to ice the game and give Muscle and Medicine a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a pretty balanced attack on both sides, with each team taking a scratch. Smokey's scratch proved far less timely for the Muscle Bros, acting as a counter to a four-ball run by Lionel previously. This allowed Rainmane to put up a three-ball run-out for Muscle and Medicine, which gave them a 2-0 series lead after she stowed the 8 in the bottom right. Rainmane's break in game 3 wasn't her best, but she took two stripes and a solid, and selected stripes. Lionel couldn't dig out of trouble, accidentally potting the 13 for his opponents, and then Muscle and Medicine watched Slinks piece together a five-ball run-out before the Muscle Bros' Smokey could reach the table. This secured the series at 3-0 for Muscle and Medicine. Rainmane made a huge impact from the break in game 4, running seven balls and putting the Muscle Bros on alert. Lionel had a four-ball run, and it looked like Smokey would do the same after Slinks' set-up shot, but Smokey missed the 5, and Rainmane iced the game by tapping the 8 in to go ahead 4-0 in the series. Rainmane made an error at the end of game 5, accidentally spinning the cue into the 8 after making the 13 and sending Muscle and Medicine to their only loss in the series. The gift win to the Muscle Bros made it a 4-1 series win for Muscle and Medicine, sending them into the third round.
Finishing off this day's game, we have the series of the Ice Queens Kiwi and Watermelon against the Forgotten Generation of Spice and Sugar. The red cue is up in this series. The Forgotten Generation struck first in game 1 with a three-ball run-out from Spice capping a gritty game that saw the Ice Queens hold the advantage for the bulk of the game. Watermelon was unable to keep Spice at bay for long, and as they became vulnerable, Spice attacked to get a win and a 1-0 series lead. Spice proved relentless for the Forgotten Generation in game 2, potting a six-ball run from the break. Kiwi didn't want to get too far behind, and she kept the Ice Queens in the fight with a five-ball run of her own, but it didn't hold up against Sugar, who made the final two shots to seal the win and give her team a 2-0 series lead. The Ice Queens appeared to have control in game 3 after Spice's empty break, but that control didn't hold up over time. Sugar especially pressed the issue and forced Watermelon into a couple of critical misses, the latter of those allowed Spice to clean up with a three-ball run-out to complete the comeback win and clinch the series at 3-0. The Ice Queens were once again doomed by an inability to finish the game in game 4, as Kiwi had the Forgotten Generation down to their last shot but missed on the 8, allowing Sugar to clean up the leftovers with a tap-in to sink the 8 in the bottom right, making it 4-0 in the series. Watermelon got a bit reckless on her last turn, missing contact on a tough cut to end her late run and gift the Forgotten Generation the last piece they needed for a sweep. Spice made the final two shots to win the game and take the series 5-0, sending the Forgotten Generation into the third round in impressive fashion.
We've got more to play later today. However, there's also a note of sadness to mention. Recently, progress on the Reconstruction of the Career Matchups document was stunted when my computer crashed. What was once viewed as a week to finish both this Doubles Tournament and the Reconstruction is now more than likely an either-or proposition. This also means that UPCL Cricket will once again take the back burner and be postponed until the end of Reconstruction, which is almost 90% complete even with this setback. I will do everything I can to get both projects completed by Saturday, but it's looking less likely for both to be finished with my other obligations. Purely UPCL activities will resume once these two projects are completed in full.
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