Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Fuchsia. The Prestige star meets the Predators rookie in a series of Rotation with the blue cue. Midland's Fuchsia started well, taking the early lead before succumbing to Lighton's Spirit just past the midway point. Fuchsia rallied back on a three-ball run, nearly winning before a scratch gifted the 8-7 result to Spirit for her to take a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Fuchsia appeared to learn a valuable lesson, taking game 2 by an 8-3 scored without letting the Prestige's Spirit get into any rhythm this time. The result tied the series at 1. Fuchsia had a good break, but her lack of balls potted on the shot allowed Spirit to stake out the early lead, and she ended with the last two shots after a Fuchsia scratch for an 8-4 win and 2-1 series win. Spirit is through to the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Isabella. Rotation is still the game, but the silver cue gets a look as another rookie debuts on the road. Isabella got her debut off to a fabulous start, winning game 1 for Atlantic with a four-ball run-out, ending with a double-pot that left Capital City's Missy with no chance. Isabella made the 11 to the top side and 14 to the top left to win 8-5 and take a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Isabella lost her touch in game 2, missing every shot this time as the Sharpshooters' Missy staked out a quick lead and then hesitantly worked her way to an 8-0 shutout to tie the series at 1 after the poor game from Isabella. In game 3, Isabella recovered nicely, holding off a single rally from Missy and using frustrating defense to take the game 8-3 and earn a 2-1 series win. Isabella's successful debut has her into the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Princess. The silver cue stays in action to play 9-ball for this series. Roxy saw her six-ball run in game 1 go to waste for Freedom, as she under-cut the 9 on her seventh shot of the turn, and Tysini's Princess tapped it in at the bottom right to take a 1-0 series lead despite her lack of offense. The Hummingbirds' Princess ran three balls from the break, and while the Cascades' Roxy looked to have a chance at making the game interesting, she left the 2-9 combination at the bottom right, which Princess converted to secure the series at 2-0. Princess started game 3 with a six-ball run, but she ultimately faded in the end, allowing Roxy to blast the 8 on a bank double-pot with the 9 at the top left, giving the host a win. Princess still took the series 2-1 to make her way into the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Stephanie Livilotti. Young players square off in 12-ball with the red cue. Diamond's Pedey proved unable to overcome giving Southridge's Stephanie a wild-card ball. While she didn't punish Pedey's misplay immediately, she did extensive work to set herself up, and eventually had a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Stephanie did not have it so easy in game 2, as the Gems' Pedey pounded a three-ball run early on, and then earned a wild-card ball as Stephanie tried to plow through his defense. Pedey would be patient to get the right shot to finish the game, and he tied the series at 1 without much trouble. Game 3 proved to be a grind for both players. Stephanie fell behind early, surrendering a wild-card ball as well. Pedey eventually gave this back after Stephanie had a strategic scratch. In the end, Stephanie made her last two shots to leave Pedey empty as she took the series 2-1.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Snuggle. The parade of rookies continues in this series of 15-ball with the silver cue. The common theme so far in this Tournament has been lack of control in complex games, and that showed again, with multiple scratches for both players. Modernistic's Daisy seemed to figure it out late with a three-ball run, but her miss allowed Oceanside's Snuggle to take the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 saw cleaner play on both sides, and a couple of short runs developed. The Waves' Snuggle saw his game go sideways when he left the 15 exposed near a pocket, and the Union's Daisy converted a 9-15 combination to take the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was a return to sloppy form for both players, and Daisy thought her scratch at the end of a three-ball run would be costly, but Snuggle couldn't make the 15 from distance, and Daisy buried it in the bottom side for the win and 2-1 series win. Daisy is through to the second round despite the iffy performance.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Bright v. Potter. The silver cue is up again for 12-ball, with a veteran on an expansion team facing a rookie. North Modernistic's Bright had his back against the wall in this game, using defense to slow Pronger's Potter. He had an early three-ball run, and then the visiting rookie cashed in when the defense fell, earning a win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a much tighter game, with both player lacking clear looks at the shots they needed. Potter went for it, and the Tridents' rookie was disappointed with illegal contact at the end, giving the Nighthawks' Bright a clean shot to bury for the win, which he did to tie the series at 1. Game 3 played much more smoothly, with Potter working a four-ball run to really pressure Bright. Potter also avoided surrendering possession late, allowing him to earn the game with his final shot, taking the win and a 2-1 series win to send us into the break.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Spice. After the mid-afternoon break, it's 8-ball with the blue cue. Originally scheduled for January 31, the UPCL took time off from pool for poor performance. Combined with a plethora of family matters, the league is just returning to action on February 15, and the league remains committed to ensuring high-quality play. If the games are not up to this standard, play will be halted. Victoria's Spice took game 1 for a 1-0 series lead, using her early five-ball run to stave off an attack of separate three-ball runs by Pacific's Leonette in a valiant but unsuccessful comeback effort from the veteran. Spice had a good break but suffered four scratches in game 2, allowing Leonette to patiently chip away before ending the game on a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 seemed to mirror the first stanza early on, but Spice had a bit less control and Leonette rallied for a six-ball run to put the pressure on. Spice scratched on her chance at the 8, allowing Leonette to make the last two balls, as the Volcanoes veteran beat the Spurs captain for a 2-1 series win. Leonette advances to the second round with the series win.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Bright. The resumption of play continues in 10-ball with the red cue as these two familiar foes meet in the Northeast. Web City's Shiny didn't have the best break, but the two players exchanged shots fairly evenly in short runs during game 1. North Modernistic's Bright made the mistake of leaving the 10 at the bottom right after missing a double-pot, and Shiny punished it with a three-ball run-out to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shiny scratched on the break again in game 2, and this spurred a five-ball run from the Nighthawks' Bright, who dominated possession in the game. Bright was only unable to get the last three balls, which Shiny took in a run to clinch the series at 2-0 with a somewhat stolen victory. Shiny found herself on her back foot in game 3, and a missed play on the 4 allowed Bright to rally with a four-ball run-out after his own previous illegal potting of the 10 to take the win and make it a 2-1 series. Shiny still advances to the second round with a highly successful series win.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Smokey. The game remains 10-ball as the silver cue takes its turn in this battle between Brute Force-backed players. Diamond's Smokey experienced some frustration with himself as a six-ball run ended in a scratch, handing the game to Swordpoint's Bandit as he buried the final two shots from ball-in-hand for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw The Blades' Bandit take a shortcut at the end, undermining the Gems' Smokey comeback hopes as Bandit made the 10 to the top right off a deflected shot from the 8. The win gave Bandit the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw both players take a step back in quality of shots, none more obvious than Smokey leaving the 10 at the top right at the end, allowing Bandit to tap it in for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Bandit advances to the second round with the dominant performance.
House of Ten Windows, Del Sur: Shannon v. Charli XCX. The red cue is back for a series of Rotation as the return to play comes to another afternoon break after a short burst of games. Southern's Shannon had an edge from the start, slightly outplaying Tysini's Charli in the early part of the game. This lead became more pronounced with a three-ball run, and while Charli wiped that out, Shannon iced the game at 8-4 just after to take the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 played out much closer, with the Hummingbirds' Charli just battling off the Monarchs' Shannon in the tight game to take the win 8-6 with the last two potted balls. For the bulk of the game, the play was very back-and-forth, with the lead exchanged a number of times before the result tied the series at 1. Game 3 followed a similar pattern, with a few gutsy exchanges between the players. Shannon would get the last laugh, as a scratch by Charli left Shannon in position to win the game 8-6 and take the series 2-1 with the win. Shannon will play in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Juno. After the break, the red cue will continue play with 7-ball in this series. Kayla had a good first game for Royal, making a three-ball run in the middle of the game, but her miss on the 5 squandered good possession as Stonebridge's Juno took the game with the last two shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Kayla did well in game 2 to survive a defensive stance from the Wolves' Juno, which eventually crumbled. Kayla did have a couple of late errors, but she buried the 7 on her only try, a confident shot to the top left to win the game and tie the series at 1. Kayla played well at the start of game 3, but Juno made a charge back, setting up a close finish. Juno would just rattle the 7 out of the top side, giving Kayla a tap-in for the win and 2-1 series win that sent her through to the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Hughbert. The silver cue is in for 8-ball as the rookie Hughbert makes his career debut against the veteran Goatee. Westside's Goatee proved very unwelcoming to the Southridge rookie Hughbert, as the former had a four-ball run stalled by a scratch and a three-ball run-out after the latter failed to make much of a move. Goatee leads the series 1-0 after game 1. The Defenders' Hughbert learned a bit in game 2, playing with a bit more urgency as the Rockers' Goatee only lost a little pace on her game. The result was a tight battle that just favored Hughbert with his three-ball run-out to swipe the game and tie the series at 1 with good positioning. Hughbert thought his four-ball run in game 3 would be enough to hold off Goatee, but her seven-ball run-out proved him wrong, as she stormed her way to the win to take the series 2-1. Goatee is into the second round with a big run.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Fluffina. The red cue is back for Rotation in this matchup of strong veterans. Game 1 saw both players make their mistakes, with Boston's Gradley regretting a couple of scratches most of all. Maplewood's Fluffina punished them with cutting runs, including her closing five-ball run-out to win 8-5 in the game for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina looked a bit more confident this time, keeping close in the game before the Swifts' Gradley saw his shot drop out. Fluffina cashed in with the last four potted balls, pacing her to another 8-5 win to take the series at 2-0. Game 3 also favored Fluffina, whose five-ball run in the middle gave her a lead she would hold onto until she eventually downed Gradley at 8-5 once again for the 3-0 series sweep. Fluffina is through to the second round with the performance.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Chicky Phil. The last series of the day is in 10-ball with the blue cue. Pacific is already happy with Chicky Phil, as the newest member of the team dominated the first half of game 1, and then cleaned up the 10 after Golden's Strut illegally potted it. Chicky Phil took the 10 from the spot to the bottom right to win, going up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 had a similar fast pace, with the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil putting up an early five-ball run, but the Pilots' Strut saved himself this time, legally potting the 10 to cap a three-ball run-out that allowed him to tie the series at 1. Chicky Phil took game 3 in quick fashion, making a three-ball run-out after Strut scratched on his break. Chicky Phil used the 3 to deflect the cue toward the 10, which fell at the top right for the win, giving him a 2-1 series win. This sends Chicky Phil to the second round.
After a long break between the halves of this day of games, we should be back to normal operations for the foreseeable future in the UPCL. Follow our adventures on Twitter
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