We're into the main event of the Tournament, in what's expected to be about 32 game-days long. The first round of the A-level begins now, with...
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Sydney Sierota. The blue cue leads things off in 7-ball to get the round started. Everton's Goldy had a good start to game 1, but missed on the 5, which could have been trouble. Harrison's Sydney made a 5-7 combination to the bottom right, but also scratched, gifting Goldy the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 featured a bit of back and forth after the Eagles' Goldy scratched on the break. Sydney had the good plays early on for the Specters, but Goldy recovered, winning on a soft bank of the 7 to the bottom right to clinch the series at 2-0. Goldy made a big impact in game 3, taking the win on a five-ball run-out to secure a 3-0 series sweep over a helpless Sydney. Goldy is the first one to punch her ticket to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Stripes v. Hoot. The blue cue gets another 7-ball series, the first Rivalry match of the round. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot needed only two turns to make an impact in the series, getting ball-in-hand after Terrace City's Stripes made illegal contact. Hoot churned out a seven-ball run-out, going start to finish for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit closer, as Stripes made a three-ball run for the Knights early on, but the Meteors' Hoot also worked a pair of shots. Stripes made the last two balls, rattling the 7 in at the top left for the win, tying the series at 1. Stripes had the bulk of possession in game 3, using a five-ball run to get close to the finish before a scratch ruined the effort. Hoot won with a shot on the 7 from ball-in-hand, taking the series 2-1 as well.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Roxy. One of the better from the B-level takes on a star in 12-ball with the red cue. Freedom's Roxy overcame a strong break from Todavía's Sierra with her own four-ball run early on. This made Sierra defensive, and while she nearly took the game anyway, her last shot left Roxy set up on her final ball for the winning shot. Roxy leads the series 1-0. Roxy asserted herself early in game 2 for the Cascades, making a four-ball run from the break despite giving the Stills' Sierra a wild-card ball. Sierra had to act fast, and did make a three-ball run late in the game, but her last shot, a deflection attempt, did not time itself well, and Roxy made her last ball in the bottom side for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 was a bit sloppier for both players, but Roxy had the better of play, with a good break leading to a quick game. Sierra's struggles came from unforced errors, showing discomfort with the clean equipment and playing surface. Roxy took the series in a 3-0 sweep to advance to the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Caitlin v. Bandit. The silver cue joins in on the fun, getting Rotation started for the round. Oceanside's Caitlin was hot from the start of game 1, pacing herself much fast than Swordpoint's Bandit as she charged her way to an 8-3 win, with a bit of help on errors by Bandit. Caitlin leads the series 1-0. Game 2 went in a very similar pattern to game 1, with a slow start seeing the Waves' Caitlin ahead. The Blades' Bandit offered more of a challenge in the middle this time, but Caitlin recovered by the end, taking the game 8-5 to seal the series at 2-0 when she capped the win with a good shot on the 12. Caitlin was on the brink of making it a sweep in game 3, but Bandit had a three-ball run followed by the last two balls on the next turn to salvage an 8-7 win. Caitlin still took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Nicole v. Mario. The silver cue stays in action for 8-ball here. Capital City's Nicole had some struggles with precision in game 1, which cost her late. Central's Mario won the game, highlighted by a four-ball run in the middle after dominating the right side of the table. Mario's win takes him to a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Mario again had a four-ball run in the middle of game 2, but the Sharpshooters' Nicole answered with a three-ball run to make it close at the end. Mario was able to recover, bouncing the 8 off Nicole's 4 and into the top side to win and make it 2-0 in the series. Nicole had a great start in game 3, putting Mario behind early, and while he rallied back into the game, he couldn't get a clean look at the 8, and Nicole buried the final two shots to win. Mario still ended up with a 2-1 series win to take with him into the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lorde v. Twinkie II. The red cue is back for a series of 15-ball, the first in that event. Harrison's Twinkie II started with a rattled shot on the 1 to lead off game 1, and ended with a more confident three-ball run-out after Commerce's Lorde couldn't corral the 13, giving Twinkie II a hard-fought 1-0 series lead with the win. The Tradewinds' Lorde had an uninspiring start in game 2, but a bunch of scratches from the Specters' Twinkie II kept her in the game. Lorde eventually made a four-ball run, but Twinkie II countered two turns later with the last two balls, narrowly avoiding a scratch to get the win and a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 ended in frenzy, as Twinkie II had a five-ball run, fueled mostly on luck, end with a scratch, and Lorde countered with a three-ball run-out to pick up the win. Twinkie II settled for a 2-1 series win to advance to the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Bells. The red cue gets another series, playing 9-ball this time. Stonebridge's Prism didn't even give Todavía's Bells a shot in game 1, as Prism buried the 9 on the break to the bottom right corner, giving the rookie a 1-0 series lead in the battle between members of clubs that have sparked an intense sub-Rivalry. In game 2, the Stills' Bells did get a chance to shoot, making a three-ball run that looked good to keep going until a scratch stalled her. This opened up a three-ball run-out for the Wolves' Prism, who used the ball-in-hand advantageously to get the clinching win, making it a 2-0 series. Game 3 looked a lot like game 2, although a bit slower. In the end, Bells prevailed with a three-ball run-out after Prism struggled late. Prism took the series in a 2-1 win to move into the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Mario. The Stills captain and the Warriors rookie meet in Accuracy, another red cue series. Todavía's Easter had a taste of early greed, which led to later heartbreak as Central's Mario buckled down after his only miss on his first shot, playing well to earn a 1-3 win and a 1-0 series lead after Easter didn't take advantage. The Stills' Easter held a lead during the middle of game 2, but she let it fall into disrepair, and at the end, she took a 4-5 loss after the Warriors' Mario forced her into a pair of late misses with his positioning. Mario's win secured the series at 2-0 for him. Both players squandered leads in game 3, as Easter held the early lead, but Mario couldn't keep the game in regulation. Easter's overtime was a nightmare, with two misses, the latter on a scratch that allowed Mario the final shot from ball-in-hand for a 4-5 win. Mario took the series in a 3-0 sweep, advancing to the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Debby Ryan. The blue cue returns in a series of 7-ball. Everton's Puff III made five balls in three shots before a scratch ended the fast-paced run, and Southridge's Debby took it from there, making the last two balls to get the win and a 1-0 series lead from ball-in-hand. Game 2 went a bit slower, as the Defenders' Debby interrupted a couple of her own runs. This game the Eagles' Puff III a few more chances, and at the end, she made it count, making the last two balls to get the win to tie the series at 1. Puff III saw a three-ball run in game 3 end in a scratch, leaving her fearful that Debby would rally back from ball-in-hand. Debby tried, but missed on the 7, and Puff III sank it to get the win, earning a 2-1 series win to take into the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Jennifer Livilotti. The red cue returns to action for a series of Rotation. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot never seemed to get a grip on game 1, briefly tying with Terrace City's Jennifer before she stormed ahead and eventually won 8-3 for the 1-0 series lead after shooting well for herself. Game 2 went a bit back-and-forth in the early going, as the Meteors' Hoot frequently found himself deadlocked with the Knights' Jennifer. Hoot eventually made a breakthrough, making the final three shots in two turns for the 8-5 win, tying the series at 1 with the effort. Game 3 initially favored Hoot by a decent margin, but Jennifer did well to pull even, and then used her next turn to get ahead. Stunned, Hoot couldn't convert, and Jennifer ended up winning 8-4 to make it a 2-1 series win. Jennifer heads into the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Niki v. Bells. The blue cue gets a crack at Rotation in this series. Eastside's Niki struggled at first in game 1, but Todavía's Bells was no better, making for a slow start. Niki eventually gained a lead, and Bells made a small counter before Niki wrapped up the 8-3 win that gave her a 1-0 lead in the series. The Sharks' Niki fell behind to the Stills' Bells early in game 2, but Niki came back with a five-ball run, only to see Bells produce a crazy three-ball run with the 13 going in the top side after a deflection. Bells would close the 8-6 win on her next turn with a shot on the 14, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Bells set the tone in game 3 with a five-ball run on her second turn. Niki had to make a carefully measured comeback effort, but fell short as Bells took the 8-4 win to clinch the series at 2-1. Bells moves into the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Dominic. Old faces in new places wrap up the opening day of the round with 8-ball and the blue cue. Pacific's Chicky Phil had a small advantage early in game 1, but a three-ball run flipped things to favor Viewpoint Sound's Dominic. On the next turn, Dominic made his last stripe, and just avoided scratching, converting on the 8 from great position to take a 1-0 series lead in this Coastal Division battle. Game 2 started with a frenetic exchange, as the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil made a four-ball run and the Meteors' Dominic answered with a five-ball run. Things got tense in the end, but Chicky Phil broke the tension with his three-ball run-out, earning the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 provided a bit more tension, as neither player wanted to make a mistake. Dominic was a bit more aggressive earlier, while Chicky Phil saved it for a nearly perfect finish. Chicky Phil banked in the last two stripes, but couldn't do the same to the 8 at the bottom left, and Dominic made a three-ball run-out of tap-ins for the win and a 2-1 series win that carries him to the second round.
That's all for this opening day of the round. Expect most posts to be similar to this, with a handful a bit longer.
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