GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Acorn. An energetic rookie takes on a wise veteran in 10-ball with the red cue to start the day. Southridge's Bianca had an acceptable game 1, including a late three-ball run, but her abrupt end to that run allowed Lighton's Acorn good position to make the final two balls for a close win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Bianca had a point-blank miss on the 6 in game 2, a nearly critical error save for the fact that the Prestige's Acorn was unable to convert the final four shots. Bianca got possession back with two shots to go, and made both of them without trouble to get the win, tying the series at 1 after a mid-game scare. Bianca dominated in game 3, making a five-ball run from the break, with two going down on the opening shot, and then closing with a four-ball run-out after Acorn's single turn didn't last long. Bianca took the series 2-1, and will host Stealth of the Swordpoint Blades at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Sweetheart. Two experienced players meet in 7-ball with the silver cue. Capital City's Chris did a lot of the work with a five-ball run on his second turn, but his draw on the 5 to get position on the 6 failed, and he backed the cue right into the pocket on a scratch. Boston's Sweetheart made the final two balls to win and take a 1-0 series lead from ball-in-hand. Game 2 was a bit flipped around in the end, with the Swifts' Sweetheart making an early run of three balls, then losing possession to the Sharpshooters' Chris, who made a four-ball run-out two turns later after a bit of mutual flailing. Chris' strong finish tied the series at 1 despite his significant possession advantage so far. Game 3 had a bit of tension after Chris left the 7 near the top side on the break. Sweetheart even brushed at it later in the game, which made it easier for Chris to execute a four-ball run-out, ending on 5-7 bank combination at the top side for the win. Chris took the series 2-1, and will host the Queens Flames rookie Violetta in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Americus v. Panda. Two players trying to stick with their respective teams meet in 7-ball with the blue cue. Atlantic's Americus thought her scratch after the 3 would be all Southern's Panda needed to win, but he missed on the 6, and Americus cleaned up the last two shots in a dominant game to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Americus did a little less work in game 2, but the Monarchs' Panda barely picked up any slack, and Americus got lucky to end the game early with a failed 5-7 combination to the top side that became successful two rails later at the bottom side, giving Americus the series at 2-0. Americus nearly won game 3 off of the break, but the 7 didn't spin right at the bottom side. It ended up not mattering, as Panda scratched after a three-ball run and Americus unleashed a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to get the series sweep at 3-0. Americus will head to Tysini in the bracket semifinals, where she'll face her own daughter, the Hummingbirds' Leandra, in Cisco Arena.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Princess. The first series after the lunch break features the silver cue in 9-ball. Web City's Ted seemed to shoot slightly better in game 1 than did Tysini's Princess, but Ted couldn't close the game, losing as his three-ball run left the 9 in position for Princess to tap in for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Princess left no doubt as to who controlled game 2, making a three-ball run at the start and the end of the game. In the middle, Princess was also more effective, as the Spiders' Ted had very little in the way of good shots. Princess took the dominating win to earn a 2-0 series lead. Ted had a bit of redemption when Princess got called for illegal use of the stick in game 3 after watching her shot too long. Ted answered with a four-ball run-out to get the win, making it a 2-1 series. Princess will head home to Cisco Arena in Tysini, where she hosts the Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette in the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Leandra. The silver cue stays in action as these two stars meet in Accuracy. Diamond's Smokey didn't let a scratch on the break ruin his game 1 experience, as he would only miss one more time. Tysini's Leandra did herself no favors with a triple-pot during a scratch, as she ran out of runway in the end, giving Smokey a 2-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey played even stronger in game 2, missing just once early on after a strong series of attacks with the Hummingbirds' Leandra, who couldn't hold the lead late in the game and slipped into a 1-2 deficit. Smokey made that stand for his win, clinching the series at 2-0. Smokey refused to miss a shot in game 3, another dominant effort that left Leandra high and dry as she could never catch up in the 0-3 game. Smokey won the series 3-0, and will hope for similar results when he hosts the Central Warriors captain Twilight in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Debby Ryan. The red cue returns to action in this 15-ball series. Southridge's Debby had some good plays late in game 1 after a mixed start that saw her locked into battle with Boston's Puff II. Debby ended up with the win on an unorthodox bank shot to the top left, and while not intended, it gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II ended up with the game 2 win after a sloppy run-up to the finish. After shooting well initially, both players dropped off in quality, which hit its nadir as the Defenders' Debby scratched. Puff II adjusted her shooting style and made a three-ball run-out to win, tying the series at 1. Puff II had some struggles in game 3, as Debby had the better part of the early going, but Puff II closed things out with a three-ball run-out after finally getting favorable lines to down Debby. Puff II took the series 2-1, and will host the Todavía Stills' Sparkles in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Lexi. The league's top villain visits a journey-cat in 15-ball with the silver cue. Whitewater's Shaggy had a clear advantage in shooting in game 1, rallying with a seven-ball run to progress the game quite well. Harrison's Lexi had some distinct pressure late, by Shaggy smashed a long-range shot on the 15 to take the win and earn a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Shores' Shaggy suffered a bit more as she erred frequently. She paid for her last scratch dearly, as the Specters' Lexi made a three-ball run-out, using the ball-in-hand to set up the 9-15 combination at the top side, which she converted for the win, tying the series at 1. In game 3, Shaggy did everything she could to keep things interesting after Lexi produced an awful break. Shaggy was nearly at the win when she missed on the 14, allowing Lexi to make the final two shots for the win and a 2-1 series win. Lexi advances to the bracket semifinals, a series she will also play on the road.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Crystal. A somewhat forgotten series is next, as these two sturdy veterans meet in 10-ball with the blue cue. Queens' Crystal had a three-ball run, including a non-called shot on the 5 that Pacific's Chicky Phil deferred possession on. Chicky Phil would take a three-ball run himself, but he missed on the 10, and Crystal tapped it in, winning in the end for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal seemed to get robbed in game 2, as her early and mid-game runs were not enough, the latter of those stretching for five shots. The Volcanoes' Chicky Phil came in at the end to clean up the scraps, making the last two balls to get the win and tie the series at 1. Chicky Phil took things over late in game 3, making a three-ball run before wedging the 8 and 9 together at the bottom right, which he double-potted as part of his three-ball run-out to win the game. Chicky Phil defeated Crystal 2-1 in the series, and will host the Freedom Cascades' Stinky at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Marsell. The blue cue remains up in 8-ball for this series. Boston's Puff II couldn't develop a shot in game 1, causing her a lot of trouble as Whitewater's Marsell had slightly more success. It was still a gritty finish, with Marsell finally striking the 8 in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell grew into game 2 fairly quickly, making a seven-ball run from the break. The Swifts' Puff II had all the makings of a counterattack, but she couldn't convert a run of her own in two turns, and Marsell was able to send the 8 down legally for the win and 2-0 series lead to clinch advancement. Puff II saved face in game 3, capitalizing on indecision by Marsell at the start of the game to make an early run and support it enough for the win, making it a 2-1 series. Marsell will travel to Pronger's Ford Forum to face Tridents rookie Potter in the bracket semifinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Spot. The Cascades sophomore looks to bounce back from his last series, playing 7-ball with the red cue against a Tridents rookie. Pronger's Spot thought things were going well in game 1, but it all came crashing down when he missed on the 5, allowing Freedom's Nikolai to break through with a three-ball run-out to get the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai tried to make his run a bit too soon in game 2, and realized his mistake when he missed on the 6, which was left in position for the Tridents' Spot to make it and 7 for the win, tying the series at 1 and putting the visitor in a powerful position. Spot picked up a big win in game 3, answering a four-ball run from Nikolai with a three-ball run-out of his own to get the 2-1 series win. Spot will head home to Ford Forum in Pronger, set to host the Royal Crowns' Kayla in the bracket semifinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Lionel. Two highly respected players meet in 15-ball with the blue cue, that stick's last series of the round, after the mid-afternoon break. Todavía's Easter ended up winning a scratch-filled game 1 with a four-ball run-out that danced around scratch-prone shots to defeat Commerce's Lionel, whose own scratch set up the run. Easter leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Easter was under siege late in game 2, as the Tradewinds' Lionel made a three-ball run and then obliterated Easter's defensive play with a dead-on jump to take the 11 at the bottom right. Lionel couldn't corral the 14, and Easter took care of it and the 15 to escape the game with the series clinching win, going ahead 2-0. Game 3 was a back-and-forth battle between the players, coming to an end with Lionel making the last two balls after Easter failed to convert a combination shot. Easter still took the series 2-1 despite Lionel's late win, and Easter will play host to the Everton Eagles' Blizzard in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Hoppy v. Panda. A pair of Monarchs lead off the final three series, playing 12-ball with the silver cue. Panda made game 1 very quick with a critical error on his first shot, setting Hoppy up for a three-ball run and a tap-in left for her third and final turn after a successful break helped to pace her attack. Hoppy's dominant performance gave her a 1-0 series lead. Panda played a brilliant defensive game 2, stymieing Hoppy at the top corners to frustrate her until she removed her defense. Panda then made a three-ball run to get set up, and waited for a clear shot, winning with positional advantage to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was fairly similar to game 1, as Panda got nothing on the break and Hoppy asserted herself well. After a couple of turns of positioning, Panda made the mistake of leaving Hoppy lined up, and she squeezed out a four-ball run-out to win the game and the series 2-1. Hoppy will host Potter of the Pronger Tridents at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie Livilotti v. Spice. The red cue ends its round in 12-ball between a rookie and a respected captain. Southridge's Stephanie had control of game 1 from the get-go, making a four-ball run from the break to put Victoria's Spice on defense. Stephanie then made her fifth ball on the next turn, but had a little trouble getting the right position on the the last shot. Spice was unable to make anything while she collapsed to defend the top side, but Stephanie would eventually kick her final ball past one of Spice's blockers and into the pocket for the win, and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Stephanie didn't play as well in game 2, but a big block she tossed at the bottom side led to the Spurs' Spice giving her a wild-card ball at the end, and Stephanie made her next shot to win the game and clinch the series at 2-0. Stephanie needed a long build-up in game 3 to get in position, and Spice made it more difficult for her with a light amount of defense. Spice released the defense early, hoping to get lined up on her last shot, but Stephanie countered with a three-ball run and a good set-up on the last shot, which she made on the next turn to complete the 3-0 series sweep. Stephanie heads to Central's Nestle's Warriors Hall to face a fellow rookie, the Warriors' Mario, in the bracket semifinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Daisy. The final series of the round is 15-ball with the silver cue. Freedom's Jasmine turned things around very well in game 1, going from a sloppy and scratch-plagued early half to a seven-ball run near the end. Modernistic's Daisy had a chance to poach the 15, but missed a long-range shot, and Jasmine buried it to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Daisy saved her heroics for late, waiting until the Cascades' Jasmine missed one too many times late in the game. Daisy burst out of the shadows with a three-ball run-out, quickly making the easy series of shots after chipping in a little bit in a Jasmine-controlled game. The series is tied at 1. Game 3 went very slowly, as neither player wanted to make a mistake, and in their caution, erred far more frequently than in the earlier games. The end was tightly contested, but it would be Daisy rattling the 14 out and Jasmine making the last two shots for a 2-1 series win. Jasmine stays at home to host the Harrison Specters' Lexi in the bracket semifinals.
That's all for the Bracket Quarterfinals, done in a week's time. We will likely begin the Bracket Semifinals tomorrow, and they should last through Monday, with an outside chance to end on Sunday. Administrative work is on the way, with a standings update and a new schedule to be out within 90 minutes, all in preparation to be back at it tomorrow. For live updates, follow
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