This is our tenth game day of the top tier of games, and we begin in...
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Juno. The red cue gets a series of Accuracy to lead off the games for the day. Whitewater's Marsell showed promise early in game 1 after a painfully slow start, and while it was tied late, Stonebridge's Juno missed her last three shots to make it look worse than it was. Marsell won 3-6, taking a 1-0 series lead as he controlled the game late. Game 2 went poorly for both sides, but the Shores' Marsell came out on top of the sloppy game with a 4-6 win, as the Wolves' Juno had virtually control over her shot. Marsell's sufficient performance earned him a 2-0 series lead, although quality of play concerns are rampant. Game 3 was even worse, getting to be very close in the end, and while Juno held a late lead, she collapsed and lost 5-6 to Marsell, allowing him to earn the sweep.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Dusky. The blue cue gets its turn in 12-ball for this series that will determine if there are games to play after lunch. Archtown's Dusky received a wild-card ball from the break after Capital City's Missy made one of each. Missy scratched twice late, allowing Dusky to get set up and execute her final shots, giving Dusky the 1-0 series lead when she won game 1. The Arrows' Dusky had a rough time in game 2, trying to maintain position against a more aggressive attack from the Sharpshooters' Missy. In the end, they each needed a side pocket, and Dusky missed contact while Missy was in a bad position. Dusky's next turn ended the game in her favor, clinching the series at 2-0. Missy showed her best performance in game 3, making a five-ball run on her first turn, and patiently positioning herself at the top left for her final shot. Dusky fired back a bit, but Missy would take the win. Dusky advances with a 2-1 series win.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Violetta. A decent sophomore takes on a hyped rookie in 8-ball with the blue cue. Queens' Violetta weathered a four-ball run from Everton's Kirstin early in game 1, and then Violetta went all the way on an eight-ball run-out to snag the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta took a bit longer in game 2, as her more congested break led to choppier runs for herself and for the Eagles' Kirstin. Violetta pulled ahead initially and managed to stave off Kirstin at the end, with Violetta closing out on a pair of tap-ins for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Kirstin had a better pace in game 3, dominating play until the end, where Violetta's trick bank on the 10 actually potted the 12 to the top right and left the 10 in line at the bottom side. Violetta completed the three-ball run-out on the 8 to the bottom right, winning to make it 3-0 series sweep that she'll advance to the second round with.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Valencia. Two big-name captains clash in Accuracy with the silver cue. Game 1 was highly competitive, as neither player missed a shot for much of the game until Harrison's Twinkie II just rattled one out. Golden's Valencia would not budge, holding on for the 0-1 win and 1-0 series lead in about as perfect a game as there could be. The Pilots' Valencia took a step back in game 2, but not as much as the Specters' Twinkie II did, as the perfection of game 1 gave way to a much sloppier battle. Valencia's break was poor, and she just held onto a tie at mid-game before breaking away for the 3-6 win to go ahead 2-0 in the series as Twinkie II collapsed in the end. Valencia made three balls on the break in game 3, but this only served to shorten the runway for her, and in the end, the Pilot captain crashed to a 3-4 loss as Twinkie II held on just long enough to get a win in the end. The mixed series sees Valencia advance on a 2-1 series win.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Dusty. A rookie hosts a superstar in 7-ball with the red cue. Stonebridge's Prism got off to a wonderful start, getting the right bounces to put the 7 in the bottom side off the game 1 break, stunning Golden's Dusty as Prism takes a quick 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Prism played well in game 2, making an early three-ball run and adding two more later on, but the Pilots' Dusty made the 7 when it counted after Prism left it short at the top right. Dusty's clutch shot tied the series at 1, and with lots of break movement, could prove critical. Dusty boosted her offense with a three-ball run-out in game 3 on just her second turn, shutting Prism down effectively late in the series. Dusty advances with a hard-fought 2-1 series that was much closer than anticipated.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sugar v. Leonardo. Players in new places meet in another 7-ball series, this with the blue cue. Midland's Leonardo almost leeched game 1 off of Harrison's Sugar, letting the host do the early work on a three-ball run before he struck later. Leonardo missed on the 7, and Sugar tapped it in to take her rightful win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sugar kept the Predators' Leonardo from the table in game 2. Sugar made three balls on the break: the 4 to the bottom right, the 1 to the bottom side, and the 7 drifting to the top left for the win, giving her the 2-0 series lead. Sugar didn't have the same command in game 3, slipping around the table and allowing Leonardo to collect enough possession to get on the 7 and sink it, winning the game. Sugar still took the series 2-1, and will host the Neopolitan Surfers' co-captain Neopolitan in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Hannah. Staying in the Northeast, we have Accuracy with the red cue in this series. Everton's Blizzard had a slow start to game 1, allowing Royal's Hannah to build some confidence. Blizzard squashed this at the end, forcing Hannah into misses, which helped Blizzard eventually win 2-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Hannah played better in game 2, and also smarter, allowing herself to stay calm when she couldn't take an early lead against the Eagles' Blizzard. In the end, Blizzard making a ball on the break hurt her, as she missed the final ball and Hannah converted to win 1-2, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw each player make seven shots in a row after an empty break from Hannah, and once again Blizzard missed on the last ball, which Hannah tapped in for the 0-1 win and the 2-1 series win. Hannah is into the second round for the first time with this bid.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Leonette. The silver cue is back, playing Rotation between these two average veterans. Pacific's Leonette made the 1-5-6-2 combination to the top right in game 1, a double-pot as the 6 also fell. She had trouble shaking Infinity's Mr. Snowman, who tied it on his first turn and had a four-ball run to take the lead later on. Leonette replied with a pair of three-ball runs, the latter winning the game 8-6 for her as she goes ahead 1-0 in the series. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman took control in game 2, a much slower moving game than the previous installment. This pace frustrated the Volcanoes' Leonette, who couldn't assemble a run and fell behind. Mr. Snowman slowly worked his way to the win, tying the series with an 8-4 result in his favor. Mr. Snowman built up an early lead in game 3, but Leonette didn't fall for the same trick twice, bursting forward with a four-ball run to get set. Mr. Snowman offered resistance, but Leonette finished it on long shot to win 8-6, taking the series 2-1 as she advances to the second round.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Shannon v. Bianca. An outgoing veteran faces an incoming rookie in Accuracy with the red cue. Southern's Shannon had a great game 1, and while Southridge's Bianca held on for awhile, she couldn't stick throughout. Shannon eventually pulled away with a 1-3 win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Shannon faltered quite a bit in game 2, throwing away the advantage of breaking very early on. The Defenders' Bianca stepped up into the void, playing a great game, and she was rewarded with the 1-4 win to tie the series at 1. Bianca improved even more in game 3, with Shannon's early miss the only one in the game. Bianca locked things down in her 0-1 win, taking the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Jennifer Livilotti. Strong players meet in 8-ball with the silver cue. Terrace City's Jennifer pulled off a shutout in two turns in game 1, making a five-ball run after a nice break from Pacific's Ms. Kitty, and closing with a clever three-ball run-out for the win, giving Jennifer a well-earned 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Jennifer faced a tougher battle in game 2, as the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty paced her attack with a four-ball run. Jennifer made a close finish, but her three-ball run came up short on the 8, and Ms. Kitty made her final two shots to win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was competitive, but it saw Jennifer go on a run to take the lead, and while Ms. Kitty battled back and tried to defend, Jennifer poked the 8 into the bottom right to take the win and a 2-1 series win. Jennifer advances to the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Isabella. The blue cue is back for a series of Accuracy, a popular game today. Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles refused to come up empty handed in game 1, keeping even with Atlantic's Isabella until he left her with a poor shooting angle at the end. She predictably missed, and Nibbles made the shot to win 2-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Nibbles fell into a tie late in game 2's regulation rack, and the Pirates' Isabella stayed strong to force overtime. Nibbles successfully did a soft break, buying himself some time, but his third overtime miss allowed Isabella to win 4-5, tying the series at 1. Game 3 looked a lot like game 2 when Isabella couldn't hold a lead in the early going. Nibbles kept it tied up to the end, and he had the overtime break, electing to let fly this time. He missed, but Isabella did too, and it was Nibbles' second miss that doomed him. Isabella converted on the 11 for a 3-4 win, taking the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Klaus. Another pair of rookies goes to battle in 10-ball with the blue cue as we bring the day to an end. Atlantic's Klaus had the better of play in game 1, although both he and Oceanside's Dewey had rookie mistakes throughout the game. Klaus had a number of too-soft shots, but he got the job done and his win takes him to a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Waves' Dewey just barely outlast the Pirates' Klaus in a fairly sloppy game for both players. Dewey had an early chance to win, but missed his shot on the 1 that would have led him to a combination. Klaus continued to under-hit a few shots, and his last of those allowed Dewey to win, tying the series at 1. Dewey burst forward in game 3, making a ball on the break and then battling until Klaus worked a three-ball run that could have been more. Dewey shut the door with a four-ball run-out, earning the win for a 2-1 series win. Dewey is through to the second round.
That's all for pool today.
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