Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Hughbert. The silver cue will lead things off in Rotation for this series. Southridge's Hughbert burst out to a nice lead early in game 1, but Tysini's Brownie didn't let him get away, making for a very tight finish. Brownie's kick on the 13 was cancelled out by Hughbert banking the 15 to the top side for the 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Brownie saw a game 2 lead she built up early on nearly evaporate against a deep run by the Defenders' Hughbert. Brownie got back into the game late, making a couple of shots to tie things up. Hughbert missed on the 15 on a tap-in level shot, and Brownie made it to win 8-7, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was frustrating for Hughbert, whose lack of open shots was only amplified by missing the few clear looks he did receive in the game. Brownie had an easy 8-1 win to decide the series 2-1 in her favor, and she will head to Central's Nestle's Warriors Hall to face the Warriors captain Twilight in the bracket semifinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mario v. Sprinkles. The red cue is up for 12-ball as a rookie hosts a veteran. Central's Mario held an advantage over Capital City's Sprinkles all game, but he had to work his way into position, and Sprinkles didn't make that part easy. Eventually, Sprinkles slipped up, allowing Mario to make his final shot to win and take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a different story altogether for the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles, who had a surprising five-ball run led off by a double-pot of the 10 to the bottom side and 13 to the bottom left. This made it very easy, and two turns later, she would defeat the Warriors' Mario with her final shot at the top left to take the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 went fairly well at the start for Sprinkles, but she couldn't get set on her final shot, and Mario's late three-ball run put on the pressure. He then made his last shot at a tough angle, taking the game and the 2-1 series win. Mario will host a bracket semifinal at this venue.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Strawberry. A current Union player returns to her former Eastern Hills home to face a rookie that replaced her. Pronger's Potter had a quick start with two balls dropping on the break. This left him less room to navigate late, and Modernistic's Strawberry applied a lot of pressure, including a late two-rail bank that almost worked on her last ball. Potter was able to make his final shot and take a 1-0 series lead with the narrow win. In game 2, the Tridents' Potter again put the Union's Strawberry on her back foot, forcing her to pin herself in with defense at the bottom left, and then Strawberry ended the game by potting Potter's last ball to gift away the win. Potter clinched the series at 2-0 with the victory. Strawberry got a pretty big jump in game 3, working a three-ball run while Potter was left with a cluster of shots. Potter tried to defend, but his last shot left Strawberry lined up for the winner. Potter still took the series 2-1 to advance to the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Shadow. The Blades rookie takes on a vindictive Spiders captain in 10-ball with the silver cue. Swordpoint's Bandit was the first to figure out game 1, as it started slowly before Bandit did a four-ball run. He illegally potted the 10 on his first try, but Web City's Shadow deferred possession back to Bandit, who missed again. Shadow then converted an easier shot to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Blades' Bandit dominated possession and was rightfully rewarded a couple of times, once when the Spiders' Shadow missed on a 6-10 combination tap-in, and the second when Bandit sent the 10 into a pocket for the win, tying the series at 1. Shadow made quick work of game 3, using a 1-10 kick combination to the bottom right to take the win and clinch the series at 2-1, leaving Bandit stunned. Shadow's win sees his off to another road series in the bracket semifinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Snuggle. The blue cue begins its day in 7-ball between two talented veterans. Tysini's Leandra made a five-ball run from the break before stumbling toward the finish of game 1, as she made the final two balls after Oceanside's Snuggle missed each one. Despite the lack of command, Leandra took the game and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Waves' Snuggle was much improved, working a couple of runs in the middle of the game. He twice had a chance to get the win, but missed each shot on the 7, and the Hummingbirds' Leandra made her second chance to get the win, securing the series at 2-0. Snuggle stayed strong to get himself a win in game 3, working a four-ball run-out after a strong start to make it a 2-1 series win for Leandra. The Hummingbirds' Leandra will host the bracket semifinal at this venue against a to-be-determined opponent.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Gradley. Two well-known players meet up for a series of 9-ball with the red cue. Boston's Gradley took an edge in possession in game 1, working a three-ball run and then making the last three balls over two turns as Archtown's Sally flailed around and missed on the 9. Gradley's finishing ability on his second try put him ahead 1-0 in the series with his win. The Arrows' Sally was much improved in game 2, playing a stronger game and keeping the Swifts' Gradley in check. Gradley was ultimately responsible for his loss, as he misaligned his shot on the 8, and Sally would make it and the 9 on her next turn to tie the series at 1 with a win of her own. Sally stayed strong in game 3, not allowing Gradley many good shots, and Sally would win again with a three-ball run-out, using decent positioning to end the game and take the series 2-1. Sally will be on the road in the bracket semifinals.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Lorde. These monosyllabic players meet in Rotation with the red cue. Web City's Ted didn't start well, watching Commerce's Lorde take a large lead early on. Lorde started faltering around the 11, and Ted took advantage, rallying to get in range, before a defensive stand-off that ended turns later with his three-ball run-out for the 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Ted had a very stoic break in game 2, which benefited him well early in the game. He built a nice lead, only once challenged by the Tradewinds' Lorde, and he would carry momentum to the end of the game, where he won 8-1 to clinch the series at 2-0. Ted had another good start in game 3, but Lorde was a bit more persistent this time. When Ted had a scratch to end his mid-game run, Lorde cashed in with a five-ball run-out to get the 8-5 win. Ted still took the series 2-1, and he's in line to host a bracket semifinal at this venue.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Blizzard. The last series before today's break is in 15-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Chris was visibly rattled by Everton's Blizzard posting a six-ball run. This caused Chris to take an ill-fated masse shot toward the 10 that instead illegally potted the 15, giving Blizzard the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Chris was much better in game 2, making a few balls early on and adding a late four-ball run, but it wouldn't be enough, as the Eagles' Blizzard made the last three balls without issue to nab another win, sealing the series at 2-0. Blizzard came out with a crazy four-ball run from the break in game 3. Chris could barely keep up, and Blizzard had control of the table, ending on a deflection play to take the 15 in the top right after a touch from the 13. Blizzard won the series 3-0, earning advancement to the bracket semifinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Nightfur. The games resume with the silver cue in 10-ball for this series. Todavía's Sierra had a nice start to game 1 with an early five-ball run. Her pace slowed after this, but Royal's Nightfur never produced a true answer, and Sierra was able to win the game with the last two shots to take a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra was faced with a risky shot no matter what in game 2, after the Crowns' Nightfur was unable to pot the 9 and Sierra did so to get on the 10. Sierra chose to take the cut to the bottom side, and she legally converted, getting the win while avoiding a scratch to clinch the series at 2-0 after a slow-to-develop game. Nightfur played her best game in game 3, keeping pace with Sierra's sometimes erratic shooting style to get the win on the last two shots. Sierra still took the series 2-1, and will play host to her father and the captain of the Web City Spiders, Shadow, in the bracket semifinals.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Shannon v. Ice Cream. We're onto 9-ball with the blue cue in its last series of this league day. Commerce's Ice Cream had a lion's share of the possession in game 1, and she made it count, ending the game with a five-ball run-out to keep Southern's Shannon away from the table late in the game. Ice Cream leads the series 1-0 with that big win. Game 2 was a much more balanced battle between the players. The Monarchs' Shannon saw her late chance go to waste when she shot wide on the 9, and the Tradewinds' Ice Cream didn't give her another chance, making it on the first try for the win and 2-0 series lead to the visitor. Ice Cream needed a bit of help in game 3, using a scratch by Shannon that ended a three-ball run as Ice Cream's catalyst to winning the game. Ice Cream took the series in a 3-0 sweep, and advances to the bracket semifinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Mr. Snowman. Old faces in new places meet in this series of 7-ball with the red cue. Infinity's Mr. Snowman got pretty lucky with a deflection on the 7 in game 1, which missed on a bank to the bottom side, but rolled to the bottom right and in to defeat Royal's Kayla and earn a 1-0 series lead after a very sloppy game. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman played well early and late, but two scratches in the middle and a miss on the 7 near the end allowed the Crowns' Kayla to stay in the game and eventually pick up the win to tie the series at 1 despite still not playing up to the established standard. Kayla completed the great escape by taking control in game 3, missing less often than Mr. Snowman to control the game, and she made the final two shots for the win. Kayla took the series 2-1, but will still play on the road in the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Luigi. The day ends with a pair of rookies meeting 7-ball, again with the red cue. Swordpoint's Bandit never allowed North Modernistic's Luigi to the table in game 1, as Bandit did a four-ball run-out from the break, including a 1-5 combination and a deflection off the 3 to take the 7 in the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. While game 2 was not as easy for the Blades' Bandit, he still got the win, taking a three-ball run-out at the end with good positioning to shield against the Nighthawks' Luigi. Bandit clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Bandit saved the heroics in game 3 for the finish, working a four-ball run-out after Luigi toyed with the game a bit more than usual. Bandit took the series in a 3-0 sweep, earning advancement to hosting a bracket semifinals series.
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