We are on track to end this round on either Wednesday or Thursday, likely resulting in the Bracket Semifinals commencing on Friday either way. We'll begin this fourth day of the round in...
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Max. A pair of veterans meet in 10-ball with the blue cue to resume full-time action for the Tournament. Swordpoint's Snowball had the better game 1, including a four-ball run in the middle of the game. Queens' Max had all his offense on a three-ball run, and he missed the 10 twice before Snowball buried it on her second try to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball wasn't quite as good in game 2, as the Flames' Max pressed a little more with his season on the line. Max faltered when he missed on the 9, allowing Snowball a second chance to kick it in the bottom right, and she did, also making the 10 to the top side for the win that clinched the series at 2-0. Snowball should have won game 3 as well, working a six-ball run during the game, but Max had the last two balls after Snowball's run ended, and his win made it a 2-1 series. Snowball still advances, and she will host a bracket semifinal series.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Twilight. The game is still 10-ball, but the silver cue comes on to mediate the games between two of Reality's players. Pearl's Boots was a bit too respectful in game 1, choosing to shoot away from the 10 on the 2, and then scratching on the 3. Central's Twilight responded by making the 3 and then a 4-10 combination at the top right to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight made quick work of game 2 as well, thanks to an illegal contact play by the Surfers' Boots. This allowed Twilight to take the 1 in the bottom side, and after pushing the 7 out of the way, she had a clear line on the 2-10 combination to the top right, winning again to secure the series at 2-0. Boots had her best game in game 3, making a four-ball run and leaving Twilight without many options. Twilight made the most of a bad situation at the end, going with a classic bank finish on the 10 to the top right, making it a 3-0 series sweep. Twilight will travel to Oceanside's AT&T Hall to face the Waves' Caitlin in the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Nikolai. Strongmen of the Eastern Hills clash in this 12-ball series with the silver cue. Freedom's Nikolai did well in game 1, using a three-ball run early on and good positioning to get around Diamond's Smokey, who wasted Nikolai's generous wild-card ball donation. Nikolai's win put him ahead 1-0 in the series. In game 2, the Cascades' Nikolai burst out with a four-ball run from the break, completely putting the Gems' Smokey on edge. Smokey didn't help himself much, and got a wild-card ball from Nikolai after playing defense a bit. Nikolai's second shot from a bad position worked, as he made his final ball to win, clinching the series at 2-0. Nikolai never overcame giving away a wild card ball on the break in game 3, as his good position went to waste when Smokey made a piercing run. Nikolai still won the series 2-1, earning advancement to the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Taylor Swift. The blue cue returns to action for a series of 9-ball featuring stars of different sorts. Swordpoint's Bandit continued his hot start to his Tournament career, grinding out a difficult win over Eastside's Taylor after neither player commanded their shots well in game 1. Bandit made the last two balls in the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit smoother at the start for the Blades' Bandit, but fell into a similar pattern as game 1. Both Bandit and the Sharks' Taylor had some struggles in the game, although Taylor found success shooting with a more deft touch, and this led her to the win, tying the series at 1. Bandit had the late surge in game 3, working a three-ball run after the cleanest start to a game in the series, but he missed on the 9. Taylor cleaned up the final shot to get the win, taking the series 2-1. Taylor is off to Commerce in the bracket semifinals, facing the Tradewinds' Ice Cream on the road at Nike Field Events Center.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Midnight. The red cue makes its debut in the day, also playing 9-ball. Game 1 did not go well for either player, as they both had plenty of misses. Harrison's Twinkie II struggled most in the early going, while Westside's Midnight had a rough finish until she made the 9 on her second try to get the win and a 1-0 series lead that came with it. In game 2, the Rockers' Midnight was well on her way to a strong finish, but her three-ball run ended with a miss on the 9, allowing the Specters' Twinkie II to tap in the missed shot for the win, which tied the series at 1 game apiece. Midnight had a three-ball run-out in game 3, keeping Twinkie II away from the table in the end in a game where she probably could have snagged the win given a chance. Midnight claimed the series 2-1, and will head to HP Field Events Center in Midland to face the Predators' Rainmane in the bracket semifinals.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Lexi. The Rockers star returns home to face another Specter in a series of Accuracy with the blue cue. Westside's Midnight missed an early shot in game 1, but it wouldn't matter, as Harrison's Lexi fell apart after a late scratch, allowing Midnight an easy route to a 1-3 win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Specters' Lexi never developed a consistent shot, falling behind very quickly. Lexi was able to regain some late control, but had to see the Rockers' Midnight miss all of her remaining shots, and Midnight made the final one to stop the slide and win 4-5, securing the series at 2-0. Midnight fell behind quickly in game 3, but pulled even only to see Lexi jam things up at the end. Lexi won with a bank on the 11 to the bottom right to secure the 1-2 result. Midnight still takes the series 2-1, earning a spot in the bracket semifinals.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Stealth. The red cue comes back to the table for a series of 10-ball. Swordpoint's Stealth simply made too many mistakes in game 1 to hang on, allowing Web City's Shiny a lot of free possession. Shiny converted with a three-ball run-out at the end of the game, winning for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Blades' Stealth didn't need a lot of time in game 2 to get back into the series, as the Spiders' Shiny had an ill-fated shot at a covered 3 that predictably had illegal contact. Stealth used the ball-in-hand to make a close-range 3-10 combination to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Shiny had another possession advantage in game 3, but this went to waste when she couldn't finish the three-ball run at the end of the game. She missed on the 10, leaving Stealth free and clear to take the win and the series 2-1. Stealth will be on the road as he plays in the bracket semifinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Debby Ryan. Celebrities collide in this series of 8-ball with the red cue. Modernistic's Daisy overcame a very slow start in game 1 after her poor break to rally from behind against Southridge's Debby. Daisy fell behind again late in the game but recovered to make the 8 before Debby had a chance, giving Daisy the 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Daisy had quite the early advantage, but the Union rookie couldn't hold on in the end, as the Defenders' Debby rallied with a five-ball run to make it even. This is where Debby stopped, and while Daisy's cocky play on the 8 forced her to take another turn to make it, Debby was unable to challenge while Daisy won the clinching game for a 2-0 series lead. Daisy needed quite a bit of time to get going in game 3, and Debby once again obliged, offering no resistance as Daisy methodically picked apart the rack to grab a win for the 3-0 series sweep. Daisy heads to the bracket semifinals, where she'll host another Defenders, the rookie Bianca, at this venue.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Kirstin. The British Derby goes to pool, as the Prestige captain hosts an Eagles newcomer in 7-ball with the blue cue. Everton's Kirstin would have been in good shape had she not scratched after making the 5, ending a three-ball run and giving Lighton's Acorn an easy pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Kirstin had a similar result in game 2, using a four-ball run to do most of the work only to see her miss on the 6 lead to the Prestige's Acorn making the final two balls for the win. Acorn had to bank the 7 to the bottom right this time to get his win, which clinched the series at 2-0. Kirstin had an easy majority with a four-ball run in game 3 after Acorn scratched on the break, but her miss on the 7 allowed Acorn to vulture another win, taking the series 3-0 in a sweep despite not playing all that well. Acorn will play in the bracket semifinals, and he'll have to be better than this next round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Stephanie Livilotti. The blue cue will play Rotation in this series before we take the mid-afternoon break. Game 1 was a painful battle between the two players, as Southridge's Stephanie needed a lot of help with fouls by Todavía's Sierra to get in position. Stephanie eventually did win 8-5, allowing Sierra back in the game late only to shut the door as the visitor took a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra was far better in game 2, displaying her elite talent in droves with a seven-ball run to take a massive lead. The Defenders' Stephanie shanked her first shot after the run, leaving Sierra in line to drop the final ball and take the game 8-2, tying the series at 1. In game 3, Sierra did more of the same, dominating her way to an 8-3 win with a four-ball run-out that ended on a 10-11 combination from distance. Sierra's 2-1 series win puts her in a position to host a bracket semifinal series.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Twilight. After the break, the silver cue is back in action for Accuracy between a rookie and a star. Central's Twilight kept pace early on despite a quick miss in game 1, but Modernistic's Daisy was able to pull away in the end for a 2-6 win after Twilight's shooting got sloppy. Daisy leads the series 1-0. The Warriors' Twilight showed much more control in game 2, hardly missing at all until the Union's Daisy began to get desperate. This last flailing failed for Daisy, who couldn't coax Twilight into another miss as Twilight laid claim to a 1-2 win to tie the series at 1. Twilight played just as well in game 3, surviving a challenge from Daisy to claim the 2-4 win for a 2-1 series win. Twilight will play on into the bracket semifinals, a series she will play on the road.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Paps v. Hoot. Former Tridents meet in a series against each other, playing 12-ball with the blue cue. Eastside's Paps got off to a hot start in game 1 with a three-ball run from the break, helping greatly as he had to weather a storm form Viewpoint Sound's Hoot. In the end, an illegally potted ball by Hoot set Paps up for the winner, and he converted to take a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Hoot started a bit slowly in game 2, but the Sharks' Paps had trouble getting set up on his final ball, and this allowed Hoot the time and space to get himself back into the game. Paps would miss contact on a tough shot near the end, and Hoot made his last ball to tie the series at 1. Hoot survived giving up a wild-card ball in game 3, as Paps pressed but never got a clear line on his final shot. Hoot used a four-ball run to get in range, and then outplayed Paps to take the win. Hoot heads to Infinity's Nissan Hall in the bracket semifinals, facing the Torpedoes captain Smudge.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie Livilotti v. Smudge. The silver cue plays its last series of the day in 7-ball. Southridge's Stephanie couldn't keep her shot under control in game 1, and Infinity's Smudge capitalized on the rookie's errors, eventually grabbing the win in a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge nearly blew game 2 when her three-ball run came to an end by missing the 7. The Defenders' Stephanie came close to making it, but it rattled out of the pocket, and Smudge buried the second chance to secure the series at 2-0. Smudge completed the series sweep at 3-0 with a game 3 win on the break, sending the 7 straight to the bottom side to leave nothing for Stephanie to take with her. Smudge will travel to McDonald's Hall in Atlantic to take on another rookie in the bracket semifinals, the Pirates' Klaus.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Ms. Puppy. The final series today is in Accuracy and played with the blue cue. Royal's Kayla made the mistake of being content to trade misses early in game 1, unprepared for when Modernistic's Ms. Puppy started to put her in bad positions. Kayla never recovered, losing 4-5 with a rattled final shot that allowed Ms. Puppy a tap-in to take a 1-0 series lead on. In game 2, the Union's Ms. Puppy held onto a perfect game for quite awhile, but the Crowns' Kayla was able to force her into a very brief tie. Kayla quickly fell out of that with a miss, and it was too late to save the game from there, as Ms. Puppy sealed the 2-3 win and took the series at 2-0. Ms. Puppy couldn't hold on in game 3, staying perfect for awhile but falling 1-3 to Kayla at the end of the game as the shots got harder. Ms. Puppy takes her 2-1 series win to the bracket semifinals, where she'll face the Rockers' Midnight at BMW RockDome in Westside.
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