Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Sierra. The silver cue gets things going in this 10-ball series. Todavía's Sierra weathered an early four-ball run from Archtown's Dusky in game 1, and then Sierra brought the game to a gritty battle. She came out on top, making the last two balls for the 1-0 lead in the series for the visitor. In game 2, the Stills' Sierra had a hot start, running six balls from the break, but she never got back to the table, as the Arrows' Dusky blasted a four-ball run-out to snag the win, tying the series at 1 in a very well-shot game for both sides. Sierra came up big in game 3, taking a five-ball run in the first half of the game, and then out-dueling Dusky at the end to get the 10 and a win. Sierra advanced to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Dani v. Strawberry. The silver cue stays up to end its 12-ball series for the round. Web City's Dani had the early jump in game 1, but Modernistic's Strawberry kept it close in a challenging frame, as both players ended up needing the same pocket. Eventually, Dani lulled Strawberry into a miss, and Dani won with her last shot to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Union's Strawberry stayed calm under pressure in game 2, as the Spiders' Dani had the bulk of good play and positioning. Strawberry strategically removed her defenses, and was able to interfere with Dani long enough to gain the upper hand and eventually win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Strawberry impose her will from the break, making one ball and leaving four others in clean position. She made two of those, allowing Dani time to establish defense. Dani would later get rid of the defense on a three-ball run, but this left Strawberry's last shot open, which she converted for the 2-1 series win. Strawberry will head to Pronger's Ford Forum in the second round to face Potter of the Tridents.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Strawberry v. Waluigi. The Union newcomer is in a doubleheader, facing a Lumberjacks rookie in Accuracy with the red cue. Modernistic's Strawberry fell behind early as Maplewood's Waluigi gained control, but the game slipped from his grasp when the shots got tougher, and his late miss gave Strawberry the 3-4 win after she made a tough cut. Strawberry earned a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went favorably for the Union's Strawberry, as she was perfect until her final shot. The Lumberjacks' Waluigi couldn't keep up with Strawberry, having missed twice early on, which cost him the chance to win, with the 1-2 score giving Strawberry the series at 2-0. Waluigi held an early lead in game 3, trying to push Strawberry around as much as possible, but he faltered and missed a lot of shots late in the game, forcing overtime, where Strawberry converted a combination to seal the 3-4 win and 3-0 series sweep. Strawberry faces Waluigi's brother, Victoria Spurs rookie Wario, at this venue in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Nightfur. The Waves rookie meets the Crowns captain in 10-ball with the silver cue, with the winner facing earlier winner Sierra. Oceanside's Celestia had a decent start in game 1, but the middle of the game was all Nightfur, as the Royal star did a four-ball run. Celestia answered this with a three-ball run-out in the end, earning the win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Waves' Celestia had the better of play and good runs, while the Crowns' Nightfur staggered around the table with a lot of missed shots. Nightfur just needed one chance to cash in, and got it when Celestia left the 7 and 10 close after a failed combination, and Nightfur used a deflected shot to grab the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Nightfur take over, playing a dominant game with a five-ball run over the middle and a three-ball run-out at the end to take the game through great possession. Nightfur defeated Celestia 2-1 in the series, and advances to travel to Apple Center in Todavía for a meeting with the Stills' Sierra.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Strawberry. The tour continues for the Union newcomer, now on the coast to play 9-ball with the red cue against the Surfers co-captain. Pearl's Watermelon didn't play a flashy game, in contrast to Strawberry of Modernistic, who had two successful trick shots, but Watermelon came out with the last two shots to win and take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw quite the exchange between the players. The Surfers' Watermelon tried a screwball break, which sparked a crazy four-ball run with a couple of tough multi-stage shots. The Union's Strawberry answered back with a four-ball run of her own, shooting well with less traffic, but she missed the 9. Watermelon picked it up with a straight-in shot at the bottom left, clinching the series at 2-0. Strawberry outplayed Watermelon in game 3, and she was rewarded for the valiant effort, getting the win with a late ball-in-hand situation for the last two shots. The series still went for Watermelon 2-1, who will host Spice of the Victoria Spurs in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lorde v. Zach. The red cue stays at the table to finish its Accuracy for the round in this series. Pronger's Zach had a perfect game in sight in game 1, but his miss on the last ball allowed Commerce's Lorde to force overtime, and she left Zach with no position to break from, causing a scratch. Lorde converted from ball-in-hand to win 1-2 and take a 1-0 series lead with the smart play. The Tridents' Zach did not get discouraged by a slow start in game 2, taking control of the game from the moment the Tradewinds' Lorde had a scratch. Zach bossed the play, forcing a tie and eventually a late Lorde miss to put him ahead 3-4. Lorde ended the lost cause game with a two-rail bank of the 10 to the bottom side for a highlight, but the series is tied at 1 with Zach's win. In game 3, the players went back and forth, with Lorde holding the early lead, then falling into a tie and eventually behind Zach, where she would end in the 2-3 result. Zach's win made it 2-1 for him in the series, and he advances to travel to Freedom's Toyota Arena, where the Cascades' Stinky awaits him in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Crystal. The blue cue's first series of the day is its last in 9-ball for the round. Diamond's Citrus had a fabulous game 1, making a three-ball run from the break, and then a four-ball run-out sandwiching a pair of nice shots from Queens' Crystal. Citrus' big performance gave her the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Flames' Crystal made a three-ball run early on, with a couple of hard shots in the mix. The Gems' Citrus appreciated the help, answering with a six-ball run-out, facing a much easier distribution that she dispatched effectively to get the win and a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, the play was much more balanced, as Citrus couldn't cobble together a long run, allowing Crystal to stay in the game and make the last two shots for the win. Citrus still took the series 2-1, and she will host Infinity Torpedoes captain Smudge in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Rosalina. Eastern Hills proxies meet in 8-ball with the blue cue, with experience not a major factor. Freedom's Nikolai had a hot start in game 1, but he nearly lost it to Diamond's Rosalina, who just rattled the 8 out of the bottom right. This left it in line for Nikolai to pot at the bottom left, and he converted for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Rosalina will wonder long and hard how she messed up game 2, as her five-ball run on her first turn wasn't enough, allowing the Cascades' Nikolai to slowly chip back into the game, eventually swiping the win with the last two balls for a 2-0 clincher of a lead. Rosalina served up a similar game 3, flipping the script to rally from way back while playing strong defense against Nikolai. He was stymied on the 8, and Rosalina got the win. Nikolai still took the series 2-1, and will host Smudge of the Infinity Torpedoes at this venue in the next round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Mr. Snowman. The red cue wraps up its 7-ball series for the round in this battle. Pacific's Chicky Phil got a much-deserved win in game 1, making every ball over two turns, with one on the break and a six-ball run-out to get the win, for a 1-0 series lead over Infinity's Mr. Snowman. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman fought back in game 2, getting a chance to develop his shot. He would take a majority of the shots in the chippy game, getting the win over the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil with his second try on the 7, sunk in the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was much shakier on both sides, as each player tried to impress on an unfavorable table. The opportunity finally fell to Mr. Snowman after Chicky Phil missed on the 7, and Mr. Snowman converted, taking the series 2-1. He advances to face the Royal Crowns' Kayla on the road at Kraft Forum in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Chris. The blue cue is ending its Rotation series for the round in this match. Royal's Nightfur did not dominate in game 1, but she kept a small lead over Capital City's Chris for much of the game, and broke away at the end with a short run for an 8-5 win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was also highly competitive, taking until nearly the end for a player to establish a multi-shot lead. That was the work of the Sharpshooters' Chris, who cashed in on mistakes from the Crowns' Nightfur multiple times to earn the advantage, and a turn later, the 8-5 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 went back and forth as well, with Chris holding the advantage most often. He had the early lead slip away on a four-ball run by Nightfur that put her on the brink of winning, but he came back with a three-ball run-out to win 8-7 and take the series 2-1. Chris will travel to Pepsi Arena in Lighton to face the Prestige's Spirit.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Potter. The last series of the afternoon has the blue cue up for 8-ball. In game 1, Tysini's Leandra played a very strong but reckless game, frequently putting the 8 in motion. The more conservative Potter of Pronger played patiently, and then struck with a three-ball run-out at the end, stealing the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter had a lead from the start of game 2, keeping the Hummingbirds' Leandra at bay with a four-ball run in the middle of the game. This set him up well even as Leandra made a late push, and Potter made the last two shots to seal the game, taking a 2-0 series lead. Potter left no doubt in game 3, making a four-ball run as the highlighted turn of the game. Leandra tried to keep up, but she left the 8 open at the end. Potter swept the series, and will return home with the 3-0 in his pocket to face his captain, the Tridents Precious, as Ford Forum.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sugar v. Spice. Sisters battle it out to lead off the night session in 12-ball with the red cue, its last series in the event. Harrison's Sugar made a ball on the break, but this left her with the less favorable distribution from the break. Victoria's Spice hardly relented until she was on her last ball, allowing Sugar back in only to slam the door and tap in the winning shot for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Spurs' Spice left no options for the Specters' Sugar, running five balls from the break to put pressure on immediately. Sugar did well to pull in a three-ball run, and she nearly got set for the rest of her shots on the next turn, but Spice was able to convert her final ball and clinch the series at 2-0. Spice completed the 3-0 series sweep in game 3, a less intense version of game 2 that saw her dominate from the start by picking out the corners, and Sugar couldn't organize her shots in time, taking the loss. The quasi-upset sends Spice to GE Stadium Events Center in Southridge to face the Defenders' Stephanie in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Strawberry v. Sprinkles. The red cue stays up for a series of 8-ball between club-mates. Modernistic's Strawberry established herself well in game 1, making a five-ball run on her second turn to make things difficult for Capital City's Sprinkles. She never recovered, faltering at the end until Strawberry got a clear tap-in on the 8 to win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Union's Strawberry had the lead late in the game, but couldn't hold on, watching the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles break through her defenses and make it an all-out rush on the 8. Strawberry had a try to the bottom left that came up short, and Sprinkles tapped it in on her second chance to tie the series at 1 with her win. Strawberry built up a nice lead in game 3, leaving Sprinkles to chase the game, and while she had a three-ball run to make things closer at the end, Strawberry converted on the 8 in time to get the win and a 2-1 series win. Strawberry will host former Tridents teammate and current Viewpoint Sound Meteor Hoot in the second round at this venue.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Missy. The red cue gets a third-straight series between members of the same club in this 9-ball battle, the last on the bracket for this round. Game 1 played out fairly evenly, with only Capital City's Missy making the 6-9 bank combination to the bottom right to down Golden's Dusty, giving Missy the 1-0 series lead with the highlight play. The Pilots' Dusty dominated in game 2, working a seven-ball run after the Sharpshooters' Missy scratched on the break, and then Dusty made the 9 after Missy scratched again on her second turn. Dusty's winning performance tied the series at 1. Dusty came up big when it counted in a jittery game 3, making a three-ball run-out including a long strike on the 7 to the top left to spark it all. Dusty won the series 2-1, and will advance to face the Midland Predators' Rainmane in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Niki. The red cue stays in action for a series of 8-ball. Pearl's Neopolitan had an early four-ball run in game 1, but almost saw it go to waste as Eastside's Niki replied later in the game with a five-ball run. This made for a tense finish, which saw Neopolitan confidently make the 12 and then the 8 to the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Sharks' Niki could seemingly do no wrong, bursting ahead for a lead on an early run and then moving defense relentlessly. The Surfers' Neopolitan countered with a five-ball run late in the game, but she missed on the 8, and Niki cleaned up the table, taking the last three shots for a win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a tale of two halves, as Neopolitan left the 8 on the top left pocket's edge, forcing herself into a defensive stance as she had two balls in the area. Niki was able to play without fear, working her way toward the 8. Then, Neopolitan had to attack her own defenses, and sent in a rocket suicide shot that miraculously punched the 8 out, only for Niki to pot it two shots later, giving Niki a 2-1 series win and a trip to face the Southridge Defenders' Bianca in GE Stadium Events Center in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Smudge. The final series of the day creates a venue doubleheader on the coast, with the silver cue in play for 10-ball. Infinity's Smudge thought she had the edge in game 1, playing slightly better with a late three-ball run, but Pearl's Boots sliced in the last two balls to get the win in confident form herself, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge made an aggressive decision while behind in game 2, playing a 6-10 combination attempt to the top right from ball-in-hand. The shot was short, and the Surfers' Boots iced the game with the same combination on a tap-in to seal the series at 2-0. Smudge made the right choice to defer play back to Boots in game 3 after an illegal double-pot, but Boots made her pay for it anyway, continuing the run to a seven-ball run-out for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Boots will host the Central Warriors' Twilight in the second round.
We're done for today. The first round of the B-level bracket should end with 30 games tomorrow. Until then, follow us on Twitter
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