We're back on day two of the main event. We begin with...
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Tigerette. These two competitive captains lead us off in 8-ball with the silver cue. Oceanside's Snuggle was the first to put up a run in game 1, working five straight before illegal contact nearly saw the 8 potted in the top left. Commerce's Tigerette came out blazing from here, winning on a seven-ball run-out full of nifty positioning to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette saw a strong six-ball run go to waste in game 2, as she couldn't calibrate her shot on the 8, and the Waves' Snuggle calmly got back in the mix and made it on his first try to tie the series at 1 with his win. In game 3, Snuggle did a little too much collateral damage on his late run, allowing Tigerette a fairly easy path to victory after Snuggle couldn't stretch the play. Tigerette took the win and a 2-1 series to head to the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lorde v. Crystal. The game is still 8-ball, but the red cue is up for this series. Commerce's Lorde assembled a five-ball run in game 1, but couldn't build upon that at all in the later stages, and Queens' Crystal roared back to take the win and a 1-0 series lead with short runs on her turns. The short run theme persisted in game 2, as the Flames' Crystal burst out to a lead with a pair of decent turns. The Tradewinds' Lorde countered with a couple of short runs, and then prevailed with a three-ball run-out after the 8 eluded Crystal. Lorde's win tied the series at 1. Lorde seemed to have the advantage in game 3, but she chipped a shot, and Crystal took over, bumping out Lorde insurance shot in the midst of making it irrelevant, as Crystal ran out six balls for the win and a 2-1 series win to advance to the second round with.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Valencia. The silver cue returns to action in this 7-ball series. Golden's Valencia did all the work for none of the reward in game 1, making a pair of three-ball runs after Capital City's Missy missed contact on her second shot. Valencia lost when the cue fell in the bottom side as she made the 7, gifting Missy a win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 played much tighter for both sides, but the Pilots' Valencia again ended up making it too easy for the Sharpshooters' Missy. Valencia left the 7 at the bottom left after a failed bank, and Missy converted with an easy tap-in for the win and 2-0 series lead. Valencia had another possession edge in game 3, but couldn't convert on the 7 along the top rail, and Missy made a shorter-range shot to make it a 3-0 series sweep, with Missy heading to the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Puff I. Savvy veterans collide in this series of 9-ball featuring the red cue. Web City's Shadow had the bulk of possession in game 1 due to Modernistic's Puff I having a scratching problem. Puff I still had a chance to win, but left the 9 short, and Shadow buried it to take a 1-0 series lead for himself. The Union's Puff I still lacked control in game 2, missing a few shots and taking another scratch, while the Spiders' Shadow also experienced a quality drop-off. Shadow still won, recovering with a nice cut on the 9 at the end to get the win and clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 was over very quickly, as Shadow scratched on the break, Puff I made a four-ball run from ball-in-hand, and Shadow fired back with a five-ball run-out to win and make it a 3-0 series sweep that will carry him to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Ted. The silver cue gets a look at 12-ball now. Boston's Puff II had a fortunate bounce on the break, and she made her early shots count. Web City's Ted flailed a bit more, and lost when he couldn't penetrate her defense, as Puff II rallied with a three-ball run-out from there for the 1-0 series lead on her win. The Swifts' Puff II had another good break in game 2, but faced more resistance from the Spiders' Ted late in the game. Puff II delayed her win with a scratch, but missed contact from Ted gave Puff II a line on her final shot, and she secured the series at 2-0. Puff II got even more help in game 3, as Ted gave away a wild-card ball early, and his defense ended up being useless, as Puff II shot around it with the added flexibility to get the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Puff II is through to the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Dusty. The blue cue's daily debut is a big one, as two all-time greats meet in 10-ball. Golden's Dusty prevailed in game 1, but it was a close battle that saw plenty of errors and tough shots. Archtown's Ruby couldn't keep possession after the 8, and Dusty came in to make the final two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was downright sloppy between the players, as neither could make a run. The Pilots' Dusty had a late scratch, which set the Arrows' Ruby up at the end, but she rattled the 10 out, and Dusty's best shot was her strike to take the 10 at the bottom left for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Dusty's best performance came in game 3, as she started with a four-ball run and added a late three-ball run, but she left the 10 standing, and Ruby tapped it in to steal the win. Dusty still claimed the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Hughbert. The Knights' captain faces a Defenders rookie in Accuracy with the silver cue. Terrace City's Kiwi cruised until about halfway through game 1, where a case of the yips struck her, and Southridge's Hughbert took a commanding lead. Kiwi recovered late, but five misses in a row made it an easy 2-5 win for Hughbert to gain a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi gained an early lead after a pair of misses from the Defenders' Hughbert in game 2, and she was able to make it last in a frenetic finish. Kiwi won 1-2, tying the series at 1 game apiece as the decisive game is up next. Kiwi ended up on the right side of the possession in game 3, as she was able to make Hughbert miss his final two shots after playing an even game to that point. Kiwi took the win 2-4, and the series 2-1, to advance to the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Jake. The red cue takes its turn in as we get another series of Accuracy. Royal's Jake brought his shooting hands in game 1, while Lighton's Acorn was clearly not prepared for the challenge. Jake had a dominant game, helped greatly by Acorn's poor shooting and decision-making, with Jake winning 1-5 for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake didn't have it as easy in game 2, as he briefly fell into a tie near the end when the Prestige's Acorn recovered from an early sputter, but Acorn couldn't hold onto the draw, and Jake made the final ball for a 2-3 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Acorn had a great game 3, finally putting Jake in the tough positions for a bit. Jake still did well, but ultimately took the loss 1-2 as Acorn salvaged a game from the series. Jake heads to the second round after a 2-1 series win.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Jake. The Crowns veteran makes a quick trip to face the Predators captain in 15-ball with the silver cue. Midland's Shawn showed a clear advantage in play with a couple of three-ball runs, while Royal's Jake struggled to the travel and different game style. Shawn won with a pair of shots from ball-in-hand, leading to a 5-15 combination at the top right to give him the 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake had a much better game 2, stringing together three separate runs, including two that made it to four shots. The latter of those saw him double-pot the 10 and 12 to the bottom left and bottom side on a kick. However, it was the Predators' Shawn who would win after a cold start, taking a four-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 was the least interesting in the series, until a hot finish from Jake, which saw him attack the 15 with a six-ball run in the bank. He missed on the 15, and Shawn came up to steal another win away, sweeping the series 3-0 as he moves into the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Smokey. The silver cue administers a 7-ball series before the dinner break. Diamond's Smokey showed some inspired shots in game 1, but not many of them worked out, and Everton's Blizzard provided solid results with a three-ball run-out for the win, giving her a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Eagles' Blizzard had only the break shot, which resulted in her scratching. The Gems' Smokey got a critical equalizer when he converted the 1-7 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand for the win to tie the series at 1. Blizzard had the better of play in game 3, but while Smokey was open to experimenting early, he closed the game with brutal efficiency after Blizzard's last scratch, giving him the win and a 2-1 series win to move into the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Bright v. Rosalina. A veteran on a new team faces a rookie on an old one in 7-ball with the silver cue, one of two post-dinner series. North Modernistic's Bright struggled to keep control in game 1, and in the end, Diamond's Rosalina surged ahead with a three-ball run-out to get the win as the 7 banked to the top left, giving her a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Gems' Rosalina seemed to have the better of the shooting, but she was a bit unlucky in the end. Rosalina tried a 6-7 kick combination to the bottom left that almost made the 6 in the top side. Instead, the Nighthawks' Bright had easy shots for the last two balls to get the win, tying the series at 1. Bright stepped up his game in game 3, making a five-ball run-out to close out Rosalina and get the 2-1 series win in the end. Bright heads to the second round with a good performance.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Stinky. The highly hyped Meteors rookie takes on a Cascades veteran in 8-ball with the red cue for today's finale. Freedom's Stinky thought a six-ball run would carry him in game 1, but a scratch and no clear shots afterward gave time for Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles to make a six-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Despite having some good looks for runs in game 2, the Cascades' Stinky couldn't get anything going positively for himself, and this allowed the Meteors' Nibbles to stay in the game and end up with another win when he made the last two shots. Nibbles secured the series at 2-0. Nibbles capped it with a hot start in game 3, a weak middle portion that saw Stinky pull back into the game, and then a four-ball run-out from Nibbles to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Nibbles advances to the second round.
We'll be getting into a normal schedule of pool in the morning and afternoon, with approximately two hours of cricket at nights, starting on Tuesday at the latest. Follow @UnitedPCL on Twitter for live updates.
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