Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Smudge. Two Solid Core stars tangle in a series of Accuracy with the red cue. Swordpoint's Dreamy came to play, missing just one shot while the game was in question. Infinity's Smudge kept it close for awhile, but rattled two late shots out and ended up losing 2-4 as Dreamy went ahead 1-0 in the series. In game 2, the Torpedoes' Smudge had quite the handle on things until the very end, as she missed a shot to drop into a tie, and the Blades' Dreamy left her in a scratch-prone position. Smudge did just that, losing at the end 2-3 to give Dreamy the 2-0 series lead. Game 3 was even tighter for Dreamy, as she was down late in the game but managed to induce a miss onto Smudge. This tied the game, and Dreamy made the last ball on a bank and then the only ball of overtime to win 2-3. Dreamy's 3-0 series sweep sends her to the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Prism. It's a debut in 15-ball with the blue cue for the visiting Wolves rookie against a Rockers stalwart. Stonebridge's Prism did not look overwhelmed in game 1, but her flashes of brilliance didn't come with a finish, as Westside's Goatee overcame three- and five-ball runs to make the last two balls to win, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Goatee was hot from the start in game 2, making a five-ball run from the break and holding off choppy runs by the Wolves' Prism in the middle of the game. It was a scratch by Prism that led Goatee to the win, giving her a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 was brought to a surprisingly quick end by Prism, as she weathered Goatee's early attack before blasting a 2-11-15 bank combination with a glancing deflection of the 15 off the 14 before making it in the bottom right. This made it a 2-1 series win for Goatee, which she gladly accepts as she heads to the second round.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Shannon v. Panda. The two remaining original Southern Monarchs (Reyes Del Sur) meet in 9-ball with the blue cue in a battle between teammates. The captain, Panda, was able to get the game 1 win over his longtime teammate, as Shannon's four-ball run ended up going to waste in a mixed ending. Panda emerged to take the last two shots after numerous misses from Shannon, giving him the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 didn't seem like it was going to take as long as it did, but sloppy shooting from both players extended the game for quite awhile. The stalemate broke when Panda missed on the 7, sparking Shannon to a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Shannon started well in game 3, but Panda answered back to keep an even game. Panda's mistake was a missed 7-9 combination, which Shannon converted to the bottom right to win the game and take the series 2-1. Shannon will host Ice Cream of the Commerce Tradewinds in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Gradley. We'll get a bit more 9-ball in this series, with the red cue taking a turn. Pearl's Boots started well with a three-ball run, and while her close was a bit more challenged by Boston's Gradley, she was able to finish the game with a win by making three of the last four. Boots leads the series 1-0. The Swifts' Gradley stood up for himself a bit better in game 2, answering a four-ball run by the Surfers' Boots with a four-ball run-out after Boots missed the 6 at the top side. The big response put Gradley in a 1-1 tie in the series, with one game to decide it all. Gradley had a very productive break in game 3, making the 1 in the top side and lining himself up for an automatic 2-5-9 combination to the top right to get the win. Gradley's stunner wiped out Boots, and Gradley's 2-1 series win takes him to Starbucks Arena in Archtown to face the Arrows' Sally in the next round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Waluigi v. Stealth. The last series of 10-ball with the red cue in this round goes now. Maplewood's Waluigi seemed to have a slight edge in game 1, but this all went away when he scratched despite making a tough-angle shot on the 10 to the top side. Swordpoint's Stealth made the routine shot on the 10 from ball-in-hand to take a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Stealth maintained a certain authority in his shooting, which was not present for the Lumberjacks' Waluigi. As such, Waluigi's late misses in game 2 proved more costly, as Stealth was able to make something of them, eventually striking the 10 firmly to the top right to clinch the series at 2-0 with his win. Stealth had a terrible break in game 3, one of many mistakes that allowed Waluigi to get the win. Stealth took the series 2-1 despite the ugly finish, advancing to visit Oriental United club-mate and Web City Spider Shiny at Home Depot Forum in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Niki. The blue cue is back in action for a series of Accuracy. Eastside's Niki played well in game 1 despite an early miss, eventually forcing Commerce's Tigerette to fall behind on a failed cluster-buster. Tigerette added a late miss to seal her fate, losing 2-3 to Niki, who owns a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much more poorly for the Sharks' Niki, as she fell behind early on and the Tradewinds' Tigerette refused to be caught. Tigerette was nearly perfect for the game, but a late miss on the 9 ruined that, and she settled for a 1-4 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 saw a tense battle that inflicted damage on both players. Niki got the worst of it, squandering a number of leads as Tigerette clamped down later in the game to emerge with a 4-6 win and 2-1 series win. Tigerette did well under pressure to take the 2-1 series win.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Bianca. The red cue returns for 8-ball as a grandmother faces her granddaughter. The Southridge rookie Bianca took the early advantage, winning game 1 with a short two-ball run-out. Her runs were more prominent in the game, as Whitewater's Shaggy had little success against Bianca, who leads the series 1-0. The Shores' Shaggy finally found a deep run in game 2, working for five straight makes to get onto the 8. She had to unlock it from some deep defense, but this allowed the Defenders' Bianca an easy set of shots to win, taking the game on a four-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Bianca brought the series to a swift end in game 3, making the 8 on the break to the bottom right to earn the 3-0 sweep over Shaggy. Bianca advances to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Caitlin. Two very solid players meet up in 15-ball with the silver cue, its last series on the bracket. Freedom's Jasmine had a good start in game 1, but that wouldn't hold up, as both she and Oceanside's Caitlin scratched their way through the middle. Caitlin went on a three-ball run in the late stages, and got a second chance on the 15, burying it for the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Caitlin had a bit of a slow start in game 2, and a missed contact early on. Unbeknownst to anyone, the Cascades' Jasmine would get a three-ball run-out, ending on a double-pot of the 5 to the bottom left, with the rebound taking the 15 in the top side to even the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 saw a certain amount of balance between the players, and plenty of errors to change possession rapidly. Jasmine ended up with the win, working a three-ball run-out at the end for a 2-1 series win. Jasmine will host Daisy, the Modernistic Union rookie, at this venue in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Leandra. Two higher-level players face off in 12-ball with the blue cue, ending the first round on that bracket. Tysini's Leandra outplayed Pearl's Neopolitan in game 1, with a little help from the wild-card ball Neopolitan gave up at the break. Leandra ended on a three-ball run-out to take the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 reversed the roles for the players, as the Surfers' Neopolitan received a wild-card ball from the Hummingbirds' Leandra. Leandra held her defense a bit longer, but Neopolitan broke through and got the win anyway, tying the series at 1. Neopolitan somehow managed to waste a four-ball run from the break in game 3, succumbing to stingy defense and positioning from Leandra as the visitor rallied all the way back to take the win from ball-in-hand. Leandra's 2-1 series win sends her to Nissan Hall in Infinity, set to face the Torpedoes' captain Smudge in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Pounce. A Tridents rookie meets a new Monarch in 7-ball with the red cue. Game 1 ended in heartbreak for Southern's Pounce, who went on a six-ball run on his only turn of the game, only to miss on the 7. Pronger's Spot just barely made it, stealing the win for a 1-0 series lead in a low-effort game for the rookie. The Monarchs' Pounce was less dominant in game 2, rattling a number of shots out of pockets, but he still had a chance to get the win. The Tridents' Spot ended up tapping the 7 in after Pounce left it short at the top left, and the tap-in secured the series at 2-0 for Spot. Game 3 saw more shaky play from Spot, who has failed to command the games he's won, and this opened the door for Pounce to get the last two balls, taking a win at the end to make it a 2-1 series win for Spot to advance on.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Shawn. The games continue with Rotation and the blue cue in this series between veterans. Todavía's Sierra came out a bit flat in game 1, failing to adjust as Midland's Shawn went on a four-ball run. Just as Sierra got going, Shawn ended his 8-2 win on a double-pot of the 8 to the top side and 10 to the top left for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, a much more defensive and frustrating affair for all involved, ties were prevalent. Neither player seemed to be too far away from the other, until the Stills' Sierra grabbed the 8-5 win after the Predators' Shawn scratched to end his comeback rally from the late deficit. The series is tied at 1. Sierra set the tone with a three-ball run from the break in game 3, sending Shawn on the quest to catch up. He never could, and Sierra cruised to a relatively easy 8-3 win for the 2-1 series win, and she'll play on into the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Hannah. We're back to 7-ball with the red cue, as the winner of this series will face Pronger Tridents rookie Spot. The game started slowly, with both players missing their early shots, but after Royal's Hannah squandered a ball-in-hand, Freedom's Nikolai burst out with a six-ball run-out to win and take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 proved that scratches giveth and taketh away at will, as the Cascades' Nikolai scratched early, setting up the Crowns' Hannah for a four-ball run which ended in a scratch as well. Nikolai converted the 7 from ball-in-hand to secure the series at 2-0 with the win. Game 3 saw Hannah's three-ball run after a Nikolai missed contact answered by Nikolai in a four-ball run-out to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Nikolai will host Spot in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Niki. Regional rivals of the Southlands Derby meet in 15-ball with the blue cue. Midland's Rainmane had a terrible break in game 1, leading to a very choppy start for herself and Eastside's Niki. Things cleared up later in the game, and Rainmane had a pair of three-ball runs late to dominate the end game for a win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a slightly better break and slightly poorer shooting, leading to a challenging stretch of shots early in the game. At the end, defense gave way for the Sharks' Niki when she tapped the 14 next to the bottom side. The Predators' Rainmane made the last two shots to secure the win and a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw another bad break from Rainmane, but the shooting was much better, with a four-ball run from Niki answered by a three-ball run for Rainmane. In the middle of the game, Rainmane made illegal contact leading to the 15 being potted, gifting Niki a win in what ended as a 2-1 series. Rainmane still advanced to face Goatee of the Westside Rockers in the second round at this venue.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Klaus. The game remains 15-ball with the blue cue in this series. Atlantic's Klaus dominated in game 1, but the real story came at the end, with the 15 very close to the top right. Klaus missed it twice at point-blank range, and Capital City's Chris also missed once. Klaus' second missed resulted in a scratch, and Chris stole the win and 1-0 series lead from ball-in-hand in an embarrassing finish. Game 2 saw a continuation of the same sloppiness from the last game, with the Sharpshooters' Chris producing a poor break. The Pirates' Klaus had troubles with shooting in this game, and Chris didn't help, pinching off a comeback with his three-ball run-out including a 6-15 combination to the bottom right to secure the series at 2-0. Chris basically gave away game 3, which saw a better break but no clear shots on either side. This led to Chris kicking the cue off the left rail, which potted the 15 illegally at the top right. Chris took the 2-1 series win, and will host Blizzard of the Everton Eagles in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Nikolai. The silver cue returns to action in a series of 12-ball. Maplewood's Fluffina had a wonderful break, but her good play slowed from there, even as Freedom's Nikolai surrendered a wild-card ball as collateral damage in his four-ball run. Nikolai overcame his own generosity, eventually making his last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Lumberjacks' Fluffina started well, but her defensive play at pockets the Cascades' Nikolai needed faltered mid-game, and with the help of a wild-card ball and a scratch by Fluffina, Nikolai charged to the victory, clinching the series at 2-0. Fluffina nearly had game 3 under control, but she couldn't get set up on her last shot, allowing Nikolai to come all the way back to win and take the series in a 3-0 sweep. Nikolai's victory sets him on course to meet Diamond Gems captain Smokey on the road at Intel Center in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Stephanie Livilotti. The last series of the afternoon features the blue cue in Rotation, with the winner facing earlier winner Sierra of the Todavía Stills. Southridge's Stephanie pulled off a remarkable comeback in game 1, surviving as Everton's Goldy got to the brink of victory. Stephanie went on a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out to get the 8-7 win, taking a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Defenders' Stephanie got the upper hand initially, but the Eagles' Goldy shot back and kept things close right up to the end. This came when Goldy missed on the 15 at the top right, and Stephanie powered it in to get the win by and 8-7 score, securing the upset with a 2-0 series lead. Goldy saved some face against the rookie Stephanie, bursting out to a nice lead and never looking back in the 8-4 win. Stephanie still took the series 2-1, and will travel to face Sierra in the second round at Apple Center.
That's all for today's pool activities. We'll have more tomorrow, and for live updates, check out
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