If you had asked me in August if this Tournament would ever happen, I would have had no certainty in any answer I could give. Now, six months after the UPCL data loss and the Reconstruction of documents, the league is prepared to embark on its seventh Tournament. Much like last year, the games will be played in two tiers. In this first tier, the B-level, all series are three games, with sixteen players per bracket. At the end, the three cue finalists will meet in a ladder finale to determine the final medal results. New this year are two things. The first is game-related, as the Finals in each event will be played with the hosting player's cue, instead of split-cue. This is for efficiency. Also, the UPCL is proud to launch its own Twitter feed, @UnitedPCL. This will feature series by series Tweets, and provide a daily link to game content. In the future, player profile trends may appear at random. Without any further delay, the Tournament kicks off with...
Google Hall, Modernistic: Strawberry v. Sparkles. The first series of the day is with the red cue for 15-ball. Strawberry of Modernistic had a good first impression for the team in competitive play, controlling possession with 11 of 15 balls potted, mostly on a seven-ball run through the middle of the game that shut down Todavía's Sparkles quite effectively for a 1-0 series lead for the host. The Stills' Sparkles stayed alive in game 2, a much grittier battle that saw the Union's Strawberry struggle to keep control. Sparkles ended the game early, playing the cue off the 5 to pot the 15 in the bottom right, tying the series at 1. Sparkles completed the comeback for a 2-1 series win, using an iffy break and Strawberry's own inconsistent shot against her to get the first series win. Sparkles closed with the last two shots after Strawberry missed the 14-15 combination toward the bottom right. Sparkles plays on into the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Dreamy. The next series is in 9-ball with the silver cue as we head to the Northeast. Game 1 was not much to brag about for either side, as Central's Dustin started very slowly and Swordpoint's Dreamy failed to capitalize on any of his mistakes, allowing Dustin to take game 1 and a 1-0 series lead without having to earn it. Dustin was much better for the Warriors in game 2, dictating the pace of play, so it was a bit unlucky for him to lose the game, but his lack of finish on the 9 allowed the Blades' Dreamy to take it. The stolen win tied the series at 1. Dustin highlighted game 3 with a four-ball run in the middle, but it was a slow finish that saw Dreamy miss the 9 twice on bank attempts to the bottom side before Dustin closed the 2-1 series win on his third try. Dustin advances to the second round as he tries to shake off the rust a bit.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Caitlin. The game remains 9-ball for today's third series, but the blue cue will make its debut for the year this time. Smudge had this first game under control from the start, making two balls on the break for Infinity. Oceanside's Caitlin provided a late challenge, but her scratch after the making the 8 sealed Smudge's win for a 1-0 lead, as she took the 9 from ball-in-hand. The Waves' Caitlin made just enough improvement in game 2 to tie the series at 1. While she did rattle a couple of shots out early on, she settled in to make the 9 late, and Smudge couldn't do anything about after a second-half collapse for the Torpedoes captain. Caitlin put a scare into Smudge late in game 3, making the 9 but scratching to gift Smudge the win. Smudge set up the play with a miss on the 7 to end her seven-ball run after a slow start, but it all came back around for Smudge to win 2-1 in the series.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Stripes. The first games with an expansion team are on here, as the silver cue is in for Accuracy in the spacious Urban pool hall. Terrace City's Stripes didn't let the North Modernistic rookie off easily, forcing her into a long shot late in the game. Peach missed, and Stripes was able to bank the 14 to the bottom right to win the game 2-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Stripes ended regulation of game 2 with a pair of misses, but the Nighthawks' Peach couldn't dispatch her at the start of overtime, and then lost in the sudden death portion with her miss for a 4-5 win to give Stripes the series at 2-0. Stripes couldn't complete the first sweep of the year, faltering with a scratch to lose 1-3 against Peach in the finale. Stripes still claimed the series at 2-1 to punch her ticket into the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Smudge. The Torpedoes captain is already in her second series, as the blue cue comes on for 12-ball. Infinity's Smudge gave away a wild-card ball very early in the game, but she also blocked a pocket Golden's Charlton wanted to use. Eventually, Charlton returned the favor, allowing Smudge to bank her last shot to the top left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge had a very quick game 2, making a five-ball run from the break even as she gave up a wild card ball. Charlton tried to challenge her, but her defense was out of position, and Smudge secured the series with a lone ball on her second turn, taking the series 2-0. Charlton wouldn't go out without a fight, and she managed to take a win, keeping Smudge to mostly perimeter shots in this third game. Her win made it a 2-1 series win for Smudge, who is into the second round a second time.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Patches. The Generations Derby gets an early appearance, with a battle between two of the biggest stars and captains in the league. Twilight ended game 1 in a highlight after a lackluster battle. The Central captain took a 7-15 bank combination that just edged the 15 to the top right, and it became a double-pot as the 8 was bumped to the top side later, giving her a 1-0 lead over Boston's Patches. The Swifts' Patches quickly answered in game 2, using her second turn to pot the 9-15 combination after glancing the cue off the 2 for a legal shot, tying her series against the Warriors' Twilight at one as they've exchanged stunning closers. Twilight wouldn't be fooled again, taking her punches in game 3 before rattling a kick-combination, sending the 4-15 off the 5 and into the bottom side to clinch the thrilling series at 2-1. Twilight fought hard to get this one into the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Easter. The Predators finally get to put their stamp on the old home of the Sharks, with this 12-ball series with the blue cue. Todavía's Easter had no trouble once she got going, as her slow start against Midland's Rainmane was quickly erased by a six-ball run-out, and she even surrendered a wild-card ball Rainmane never got to enjoy. Easter leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Easter had a wild start to game 2 as well, giving the Predators' Rainmane an early wild-card ball. She gave it back later on a scratch, and while Rainmane looked to be in good shape near the end, running with momentum, her missed contact on her last ball with a defensive stroke cost her. Easter took her last ball from a free shot to clinch the series at 2-0. Easter thought that game 3 would be just as easy after an impressive break, but Rainmane's last-ditch defense saved the game for the host, as she would eventually take it on a three-ball run-out after Easter failed to get set up. Easter took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Zach. The Hummingbirds' revolutionary captain opposes a sophomore for the new-look Pronger Tridents in Rotation with the silver cue. Princess had a good start and a good finishing in game 1, as the Tysini captain made a ball on the break and used a three-ball run-out to win 8-4 over Pronger's Zach, who had a short stretch of success in the middle. The Hummingbirds' Princess faced even less resistance in game 2, making two balls from the break and closing effectively for an 8-3 win to take the series at 2-0, while the Tridents Zach gave very little fight to stay in the series. Zach went mostly unchallenged in game 3, only facing a little bit of a challenge from Princess late in the game before he took the win 8-3. The series favored Princess 2-1, sending the star into the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Stinky. The red cue is back for a series of Accuracy. Stinky couldn't control the ball very well, scattering a number of misses as the Freedom veteran found himself unable to keep up with the Pronger rookie Potter, whose sharp shot helped him to win the game 2-4. Potter also claimed a 1-0 series lead with the effort. The Cascades' Stinky saved his defense for late in game 2, but it worked out in the end, as he got the Tridents' Potter to miss on consecutive shots in the end for a 1-2 win, tying the series at 1 with a single game to decide who will go on. Potter's shot absolutely fell apart in game 3, as the rookie went from competitive to easily defeated against Stinky's relentless positioning battle in a 1-6 win for Stinky. He takes the series 2-1 after dropping the first game, advancing to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Nibbles. Stinky stays busy, returning on a short trip home to play 15-ball with the red cue against another rookie opponent. Game 1 was a bit of a mess for both players, but Nibbles came through, as the Viewpoint Sound rookie used the 12 to direct the cue into the 15, which fell in the bottom right, and was quickly followed by the 13 for a double-pot to take a 1-0 series lead over an ineffective Stinky of Freedom. Stinky couldn't recover any better in the second game, as the Cascades veteran succumbed to many errors as Nibbles secured the series win for the Meteors by making the last four balls over two turns for a 2-0 lead. Stinky saved some face with the win in game 3, leaving the league in search of its first sweep of the season. Stinky shut down a late effort from Nibbles with his own four-ball run-out, making it a 2-1 series win for Nibbles to take with him into the second round.
That's it for a short day of games. Play was a bit mediocre, likely damaged from the length of time between qualifiers and the start of the Tournament proper. If you like, follow @UnitedPCL on Twitter for real-time updates on league activities.
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