We should be averaging about 42 games a day to end the round on Thursday. We begin today's set with...
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Wario. The red cue will get the first series today, playing in 10-ball. Victoria's Wario stunned the home crowd in game 1, working an eight-ball run-out on his second turn, which essentially shut out Pronger's Precious from the later parts of the game. Wario's big stretch of shots secured him a win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Wario took a bit more time to develop after a poor break in game 2, but he went on a six-ball run-out, leaving the Tridents' Precious in the dust again as Wario clinched the series at 2-0 with excellent positioning. Game 3 was the sloppiest of the series, with neither player asserting themselves, instead choosing defensive stances. Wario ended up winning with a three-ball run-out to make it a 3-0 series sweep for himself, and he'll host another Trident, Zach, at Victoria's Sprint Hall in the bracket semifinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Salmo v. Twinkie II. The blue cue gets the next series, playing 7-ball between a rookie and a captain. Harrison's Twinkie II played well in game 1 with an early five-ball run, but her bad make on the 5 left her out of position on the 6, and missing that led to Lighton's Salmo making the last two shots to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Salmo played better in game 2, getting a four-ball run from the break, which saw him make two balls to open the game, but his miss allowed the Specters' Twinkie II an easy three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Salmo made another run in game 3, going for four straight shots, but this ended with a miss on the 7, and Twinkie II converted to get the win and take the series 2-1. Twinkie II will stay in this building in the bracket semifinals, visiting Prestige captain Acorn.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Shannon v. Dustin. Two veterans meet in Rotation with the red cue. Southern's Shannon did well in game 1, making a ball on the break and staying strong in the face of an early run by Central's Dustin. Shannon answered with a five-ball run to gain a commanding lead, and made two more shots to win 8-3 and earn a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Shannon had another good game in game 2, although it lacked a deep run. The Warriors' Dustin was able to keep up at first, but Shannon pulled away in the end, winning 8-4 to clinch the series at 2-0 in a fairly dominant pair of victories. Shannon had no trouble from Dustin in game 3, taking just three turns to win in an 8-0 shutout highlighted by her four-ball run on the middle turn. Shannon's big performance sends her into the bracket semifinals, where she'll travel to Home Depot Forum in Web City to face the Spiders rookie Ted.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Max. Two of Delila Enterprises strong players meet in 8-ball with the silver cue. Queens' Max had a pair of four-ball runs in game 1, one near the start and another at the end, while Westside's Goatee only mustered a three-ball run and a poor attempt at defense. Max's easy win put him ahead 1-0 in the series. The Flames' Max started a bit slower in game 2, not getting much out of the break, which allowed the Rockers' Goatee to establish herself first. Max did not bend, eventually earning a few good shots, and he would be able to close the game with a three-ball run-out for the win, securing the series for himself at 2-0. Game 3 was a bit of a grind for Max, as Goatee insisted on firm defense and relentless pocket protection. Max had to scratch to get a catalyst shot, and it worked, as Goatee missed contact and Max cued a four-ball run-out to win and take the series 3-0 in a sweep. Max will head to Eastside's FedEx Arena to face the Sharks' Chelsea in the bracket semifinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Smudge. One of the stars of the season hosts a captain in 8-ball with the blue cue. Freedom's Nikolai didn't get the suit he wanted, missing a short shot early on that gave Infinity's Smudge control of the table. Smudge wasted it, slowly allowing Nikolai back into the game, and his three-ball run got him to the 8. He converted on the next turn to win and take a 1-0 series lead. Nikolai secured the series at 2-0 with a win in game 2, another gritty battle that saw the Torpedoes' Smudge lead for most of the game until Nikolai made a three-ball run-out for the winning shots. Smudge provided her toughest challenge yet in game 3, working a late four-ball run to put Nikolai under pressure, but the burgeoning star made his last two shots confidently to take the win and sweep the series 3-0. Nikolai will stay right at his home venue for the bracket semifinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Caitlin v. Niki. The red cue is at it again, in a series of 12-ball between inexperienced players. Oceanside's Caitlin fell far behind in game 1, as Eastside's Niki dominated the early going. Niki couldn't get in position, and Caitlin capitalized, making a four-ball run that ended in a scratch, and then a three-ball run-out with good positioning for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Caitlin had a chaotic break, potting three of her own balls, only two of those legally, and one for the Sharks' Niki that became a wild-card ball. Caitlin got everything but the last ball in position from here, but Niki came through with defense, which she held just long enough to complete a three-ball run-out for the win that tied the series at 1. Game 3 had a much calmer break from Niki, as she made one ball. She was successful in getting some early shots down, but Caitlin kept pace and even held a lead until an illegally potted ball resulted in Niki having clear shots for her last two balls, which she made to take the series 2-1 with the win. Niki heads into a Pick Your Side derby in Westside in the bracket semifinals, facing the Rockers' Slinks at BMW RockDome.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Sparkles. The red cue remains in action for a series of 15-ball. Todavía's Sparkles made a lot of mistakes in game 1, helping to give Terrace City's Oreo a slight possession edge, but Oreo scratched late in the game, and Sparkles made a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to take the game and a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sparkles made many improvements in game 2, contesting the early part of the game a bit more tightly against an aggressive Knights' Oreo. Sparkles set herself apart with a four-ball run followed by a three-ball run-out, dominating the end of the game to clinch the series at 2-0. Sparkles seemed to keep the momentum up in game 3, but things petered out late in the game, and it took Oreo scratching while making the 15 to provide a fitting end to the game. Sparkles won the series 3-0, and will take to the road again in the bracket semifinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Twinkie I. We have more of the red cue on tap, playing Rotation this time. Commerce's Lionel came out on the right end of a back-and-forth 8-6 win, taking the early lead before a four-ball run from Lighton's Twinkie I wiped it out. Lionel charged back on a three-ball run, and after some jostling, he made the winner for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Tradewinds' Lionel opened with a three-ball run early on, including his highlight kick-combination going 2-8 to the bottom side with spin. The Prestige's Twinkie I kept it tied in the middle of the game, but Lionel broke free for an 8-4 win in the end, securing the series at 2-0. Lionel played fairly well in game 3, going on a couple of three-ball runs. Twinkie I made it interesting at the end, but Lionel secured the 8-5 win to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Lionel will play host again in the bracket semifinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Cheddar v. Roxy. The last series before the mid-afternoon break is in 8-ball with the silver cue. North Modernistic's Cheddar twice found herself behind in game 1, initially after a strong run from Freedom's Roxy, and then again at the end, when Roxy converted a five-ball run-out with a pair of combinations and good placement overall for the 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Cascades' Roxy built up a big lead only to see the Nighthawks' Cheddar rail away on a five-ball run that put Roxy's hopes of winning in great danger. Cheddar proved unable to convert on the 8, allowing Roxy the tap-in to win, sealing the series at 2-0. Roxy really had to fight to get the game 3 win, as Cheddar played a smothering defense to keep her away from good shots. Roxy found success with wild shooting, ending up getting the win for a 3-0 series sweep that will see her host a bracket semifinal at Freedom's Toyota Arena.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Stripes. A couple of tough players meet in Accuracy with the silver cue as plays resumes after the break. Diamond's Pedey couldn't set the tone at all for game 1, frequently missing, but Terrace City's Stripes never answered with a make, instead falling behind late in the game and losing 5-6 when she chipped her last two shots. Pedey's ugly win gets him to a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Pedey looked much more comfortable in game 2, only missing near the end of the game after the Knights' Stripes took a half-attempt bank shot that went well wide but left Pedey out of position. Pedey took the win 1-3, clinching the series at 2-0. Pedey dominated in game 3, again taking a late miss but coming up clutch with a kick shot to end the game and keep the 1-2 win over Stripes to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Pedey will host Stripes' sister, the Swordpoint Blades captain Snowball, in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Hoppy. The silver cue stays up for a series of 9-ball between these two leaders. Game 1 was a bit chippy, as Pearl's Neopolitan couldn't develop a late run, and Southern's Hoppy cashed in with a tap-in on the 9 after her own struggles, earning the 1-0 series lead in the win. The Monarchs' Hoppy had a slightly better game 2, but it all came crashing down with a scratch as she attempted an 8-9 combination to the top right. The Surfers' Neopolitan picked up the pieces from there, tapping in the last two balls to take the win, which tied the series at 1. In game 3, the 6 was a point of frustration on both sides, to the point that Neopolitan scratched in anger while making it. Hoppy took the series 2-1 because of this, making the last two balls to get the win. Hoppy's series win takes her back home in the bracket semifinals, hosting the Central Warriors' Dustin at Del Sur's House of 10 Windows.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Taylor Swift v. Bells. The red cue plays its last series of the day in 7-ball. Todavía's Bells ended up winning game 1, but it was hardly an earned game, as both players were very poor in their shooting quality. Bells was lucky enough that Eastside's Taylor rattled a shot on the 7 out, and she was able to convert to take the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw struggles again for both players, but the Stills' Bells had a five-ball run-out in the end after the Sharks' Taylor let her frustrations get the better of her, and that big run by Bells secured her the series at 2-0. Bells completed the series sweep at 3-0 with a four-ball run-out in game 3, thoroughly defeating Taylor in the cleanest game of the series. Bells will be in Swordpoint to face the Blades' Bandit in the bracket semifinals at Gillette Center.
Sorry for the short night portion; I'm just not feeling up to it tonight.
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