Today features more pool, although in a potentially reduced schedule due to TV viewing commitments. We begin with...
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Twinkie II. The first series of the day is 9-ball with the red cue between these talented competitors. Harrison's Twinkie II had to hold on tight against a strong Chelsea of Eastside in game 1, but Chelsea couldn't keep control, and Twinkie II made the last two shots to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II played better in game 2, surviving a shaky start that saw the Sharks' Chelsea pushing the play, and then Twinkie II burst out with a five-ball run-out to win, making it 2-0 in the series. Twinkie II completed the 3-0 sweep in game 3, battling in a loosely-shot game to defeat Chelsea once again, earning advancement to the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Solaris. The Torpedoes' highly-hyped rookie debuts in Accuracy with the blue cue against a Rockers veteran. Infinity's Solaris quickly learned hype is not enough all the time, as he struggled mightily against Westside's Midnight in game 1. Midnight kept a commanding pace early before fading her way to a 4-7 win over Solaris for the 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Solaris had a much better game 2, watching the Rockers' Midnight scratch on the break for the second game in a row. Unlike before, Midnight did not recover this time, collapsing to a 2-5 loss to Solaris, who tied the series at 1 with his more confident game. Game 3 would require overtime, as only a scratch by Midnight kept her from winning in regulation time. Still, it was quick enough, as Solaris got nothing from the overtime break, and Midnight scored to win 1-2 for a 2-1 series win to take into the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Taylor Swift v. Twinkie I. The red cue is back for a series of 7-ball between two stalwart players. Eastside's Taylor quickly shot down rumblings of her decline, blasting a four-ball run from the break and a three-ball run-out on her second turn, shutting down Lighton's Twinkie I effectively for the 1-0 series lead with her win. The Sharks' Taylor left the 7 tantalizingly close to the top left in game 2 on the break, encouraging both herself and the Prestige's Twinkie I to make passes at it. None of these worked, and Taylor again dominated possession to pick up the win with a three-ball run-out for the 2-0 clincher in the series. Taylor produced two separate three-ball runs in game 3, but it wasn't enough to hold off Twinkie I, who tapped in Taylor's miss on the 7 for the win to make it a 2-1 series. Taylor still showed well to advance to the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Stripes. The orange-and-black derby is back as the Spiders rookie meets a current Knight and former Spider to play Rotation with the red cue. Terrace City's Stripes thought she had game 1 under control, but Web City's Ted twice came back, once to tie the game at 4, and then with a four-ball run-out to win 8-7 after a three-ball run from Stripes went for naught. Ted leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Ted played great defense early in game 2, but he got blocked once, and this was all the Knights' Stripes needed to break free, going on a six-ball run and winning 8-5 on the next turn to tie the series at 1 with her quick strike. Ted broke out with a six-ball run deep in game 3, giving himself a lead that he backed up with the last two balls to win 8-3 and secure the series at 2-1, leaving Stripes a bit disappointed. Ted heads to the second round after the performance, where he'll host Lorde of the Commerce Tradewinds at this venue.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Violetta. A falling star tries to correct course against a hotshot rookie in 7-ball with the silver cue. Tysini's Princess made quick work of game 1, leaving the 7 near the bottom right and then cashing in after Queens' Violetta missed on the 3. Violetta had made the 1 and 2, but left Princess poised for double-pot, sinking the 3 and the 7 with help from the 4 to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta played better in game 2, starting a four-ball run with a 1-2-5 combination to the bottom right. When the Hummingbirds' Princess later missed on the 6, Violetta cashed in with the last two shots to win, tying the series at 1 as well. Violetta left no doubt in game 3, starting a bit weak but ending with a five-ball run-out, including a hard bank on the 7 to the bottom left to seal the win and a 2-1 series win that sends her over Princess into the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Patches. We're back to Accuracy with the blue cue in this series between solid veterans. Boston's Patches fell behind early in game 1 and never came back from it, unable to navigate the leaves from Royal's Kayla as the host won 2-5 in an easy appearance for the 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches got her game under control in game 2, holding a tie for much of the game before forcing the Crowns' Kayla into a miss on the last ball, allowing Patches to swoop in and grab the win 2-3, tying the series at 1 with a savvy veteran play. Game 3 came down to the last rotation of the cue ball, as a late miss by Patches put her behind. Had Kayla put a touch more power on her final shot, overtime would have commenced, but the cue stood and gave her a 1-2 win to make it a 2-1 series win for Kayla. She'll play on into the second round.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Hoppy v. Bear. The silver cue returns for 9-ball in this series, the last before a break. Southern's Hoppy had a nice break, but the rest of game 1 was a comedy of errors. Hoppy tried to do a 1-9 combination, coming up a bit short. Whitewater's Bear also tried a glancing shot, but he scratched while sinking the 9, giving Hoppy a win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was just as sloppy, but went full-length, and it was more favorable for the Shores' Bear, who was able to cue the 9 to the top center to get a win over the Monarchs' Hoppy, tying the series at 1. Game 3 went a bit faster and cleaner, with both players taking their chances. Bear had a good break, but didn't quite do as much to back it up, as Hoppy would take the win in the end, earning herself a place in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Americus. The blue cue will be in play for 7-ball after the break. Atlantic's Americus came up with the win in game 1, starting off a bit slow after Modernistic's Daisy had an average break. Americus brought the heat late in the game, sinking a three-ball run-out to go ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw sloppiness on both sides, none more evident than the Union's Daisy missing the 6 at the top right, only for the Pirates' Americus to scratch while potting the 6 on the next turn. This made it an easy finish for Daisy to get the win, tying the so-far-unspectacular series at 1. Game 3 saw Americus come out with a blazing shot, going on a four-ball run early. Daisy nearly countered it for the win, but she missed on the 7, and Americus tapped it in at the top right to win and take the series 2-1. Americus heads to the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Zach. The blue cue also gets the first series of the night, playing 15-ball. The rest of today's games will also be played with the center light out. In game 1, neither player had a run of any note, and each missed on the 15. Pronger's Zach was the unlucky one, leaving the 15 at the top left for Golden's Charlton to tap in, giving her the 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Charlton looked to be on pace for a similar game 2, facing little resistance from the Tridents' Zach but still failing to execute her shots until she put up a six-ball run-out to get the win and clinch the series at 2-0. Zach got lucky in game 3, overcoming the pressure from Charlton to use the 9 as a weapon, banking it to glance the 14 and bump the 15 to the top right for the win. Charlton took the series 2-1 despite the late misfortune.
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Klaus. A pair of rookies go to battle in 12-ball with the silver cue. Diamond's Rosalina had a three-ball run early in game 1, but that would be the best of her play, as Atlantic's Klaus kept her away from her final pocket, slowly setting himself up to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Gems' Rosalina again in control of picking the suit, only to watch the Pirates' Klaus come back to get the win. This wasn't a pretty process for him, as he needed multiple shots on his last ball to get the job done, but he would win, moving to a 2-0 lead in the series. In game 3, Klaus made things even more difficult for himself, giving away a wild-card ball to Rosalina. She had position to win the game, but she failed to execute her shots, giving up her defense and allowing Klaus to win in the end. Klaus advances to the second round in a 3-0 series sweep.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Twilight. A strong Predators rookie faces the Warriors captain in this 9-ball series with the blue cue. Midland's Fuchsia did fine early on, making a couple of shots with no trouble, but she left the 2-9 combination for Central's Twilight to convert on her only shot of the game, giving the visitor a 1-0 series lead. Defense carried the day in game 2, as both players kept each other on the perimeter with unclear shots throughout. Things got simpler at the end, as the Predators' Fuchsia went on a bit of a run. She couldn't make it hold, as she rattled the 9 out at the top left so hard that the Warriors' Twilight made it in the bottom left to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw frustrations rise a bit as the shots failed to go down consistently. Twilight would mess up late in the game, allowing Fuchsia to get her first win in what was a 2-1 series win for Twilight. She will advance to the second round, facing Defenders rookie Bianca at GE Stadium Events Center in Southridge.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Diddley. A classic battle between strong players takes place in a series of Rotation with the red cue. Maplewood's Diddley was first to overcome a tough start to game 1, rallying to the brink of victory with a four-ball run. Commerce's Lionel shut him down, taking the last two balls for an 8-7 win to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was going toward a sloppy stretch as well, but the Tradewinds' Lionel pumped the brakes on that, shutting down the Lumberjacks' Diddley with a four-ball run-out to claim the game at 8-2, which also secured the series at 2-0 in a dominant finish to the game. Game 3 was even more frustrating given its lack of implications for the series, but it did feature Lionel going on a four-ball run-out to take the 8-7 win again over Diddley in a 3-0 series sweep. Lionel will host the Lighton Prestige's Twinkie I at this venue in the next round.
I don't know if I'll play tomorrow, as the quality of play has reverted to what it was like just before the recent extended breaks.
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